INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Open University: Admissions

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  how many students are registered with the Open University, broken down by constituency;
	(2)  when he expects to reply to question 179959, tabled on 14 January.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 17 January 2008
	The latest available information is given in the following table. Figures for 2007-08 will be available in January 2009.
	
		
			  Number of students enrolled at the Open University, by parliamentary constituency, in the UK 
			  Parliamentary constituency  OU students 
			 Aldershot 440 
			 Aldridge-Brownhills 165 
			 Altrincham and Sale West 245 
			 Amber Valley 220 
			 Arundel and South Downs 325 
			 Ashfield 210 
			 Ashford 365 
			 Ashton under Lyne 185 
			 Aylesbury 505 
			 Banbury 460 
			 Barking 175 
			 Barnsley Central 150 
			 Barnsley East and Mexborough 130 
			 Barnsley West and Penistone 180 
			 Barrow and Furness 260 
			 Basildon 255 
			 Basingstoke 400 
			 Bassetlaw 245 
			 Bath 370 
			 Batley and Spen 185 
			 Battersea 300 
			 Beaconsfield 270 
			 Beckenham 400 
			 Bedford 345 
			 Berwick-upon-Tweed 255 
			 Bethnal Green and Bow 315 
			 Beverley and Holderness 235 
			 Bexhill and Battle 255 
			 Bexleyheath and Crayford 205 
			 Billericay 275 
			 Birkenhead 175 
			 Birmingham, Edgbaston 280 
			 Birmingham, Erdington 220 
			 Birmingham, Hall Green 175 
			 Birmingham, Hodge Hill 115 
			 Birmingham, Ladywood 260 
			 Birmingham, Northfield 210 
			 Birmingham, Perry Barr 185 
			 Birmingham, Selly Oak 355 
			 Birmingham, Sparkbrook and Small Heath 235 
			 Birmingham, Yardley 140 
			 Bishop Auckland 160 
			 Blaby 275 
			 Blackburn 175 
			 Blackpool North and Fleetwood 170 
			 Blackpool South 165 
			 Blaydon 155 
			 Blyth Valley 180 
			 Bognor Regis and Littlehampton 205 
			 Bolsover 205 
			 Bolton North East 160 
			 Bolton South East 145 
			 Bolton West 215 
			 Bootle 115 
			 Boston and Skegness 245 
			 Bosworth 265 
			 Bournemouth East 290 
			 Bournemouth West 315 
			 Bracknell 430 
			 Bradford North 165 
			 Bradford South 190 
			 Bradford West 175 
			 Braintree 390 
			 Brent East 270 
			 Brent North 215 
			 Brent South 225 
			 Brentford and Isleworth 400 
			 Brentwood and Ongar 270 
			 Bridgwater 285 
			 Brigg and Goole 180 
			 Brighton, Kemptown 270 
			 Brighton, Pavilion 460 
			 Bristol East 290 
			 Bristol North West 325 
			 Bristol South 285 
			 Bristol West 535 
			 Bromley and Chislehurst 315 
			 Bromsgrove 195 
			 Broxbourne 230 
			 Broxtowe 280 
			 Buckingham 445 
			 Burnley 125 
			 Burton 290 
			 Bury North 185 
			 Bury South 195 
			 Bury St. Edmunds 340 
			 Calder Valley 305 
			 Camberwell and Peckham 280 
			 Cambridge 535 
			 Cannock Chase 215 
			 Canterbury 350 
			 Carlisle 150 
			 Carshalton and Wallington 295 
			 Castle Point 215 
			 Central Suffolk and North Ipswich 335 
			 Charnwood 260 
			 Chatham and Aylesford 250 
			 Cheadle 215 
			 Cheltenham 335 
			 Chesham and Amersham 350 
			 Chesterfield 265 
			 Chichester 305 
			 Chingford and Woodford Green 255 
			 Chipping Barnet 285 
			 Chorley 255 
			 Christchurch 280 
			 Cities of London and Westminster 635 
			 City of Chester 275 
			 City of Durham 320 
			 City of York 385 
			 Cleethorpes 185 
			 Colchester 450 
			 Colne Valley 250 
			 Congleton 230 
			 Copeland 215 
			 Corby 300 
			 Cotswold 280 
			 Coventry North East 185 
			 Coventry North West 240 
			 Coventry South 210 
			 Crawley 345 
			 Crewe and Nantwich 205 
			 Crosby 190 
			 Croydon Central 375 
			 Croydon North 425 
			 Croydon South 370 
			 Dagenham 175 
			 Darlington 235 
			 Dartford 275 
			 Daventry 515 
			 Denton and Reddish 200 
			 Derby North 265 
			 Derby South 300 
			 Devizes 465 
			 Dewsbury 150 
			 Doncaster Central 205 
			 Doncaster North 150 
			 Don Valley 235 
			 Dover 295 
			 Dudley North 155 
			 Dudley South 145 
			 Dulwich and West Norwood 460 
			 Ealing, Acton and Shepherds Bush 365 
			 Ealing North 355 
			 Ealing, Southall 325 
			 Easington 105 
			 East Devon 285 
			 East Ham 215 
			 East Hampshire 380 
			 East Surrey 375 
			 East Worthing and Shoreham 275 
			 East Yorkshire 250 
			 Eastbourne 370 
			 Eastleigh 285 
			 Eccles 190 
			 Eddisbury 255 
			 Edmonton 225 
			 Ellesmere Port and Neston 190 
			 Elmet 190 
			 Eltham 230 
			 Enfield North 245 
			 Enfield, Southgate 260 
			 Epping Forest 285 
			 Epsom and Ewell 290 
			 Erewash 255 
			 Erith and Thamesmead 315 
			 Esher and Walton 315 
			 Exeter 465 
			 Falmouth and Camborne 275 
			 Fareham 350 
			 Faversham and Mid Kent 300 
			 Feltham and Heston 215 
			 Finchley and Golders Green 440 
			 Folkestone and Hythe 330 
			 Forest of Dean 220 
			 Fylde 240 
			 Gainsborough 310 
			 Gateshead East and Washington West 160 
			 Gedling 275 
			 Gillingham 335 
			 Gloucester 300 
			 Gosport 355 
			 Grantham and Stamford 390 
			 Gravesham 265 
			 Great Grimsby 155 
			 Great Yarmouth 315 
			 Greenwich and Woolwich 370 
			 Guildford 380 
			 Hackney North and Stoke Newington 345 
			 Hackney South and Shoreditch 315 
			 Halesowen and Rowley Regis 175 
			 Halifax 205 
			 Haltemprice and Howden 225 
			 Halton 170 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 385 
			 Hampstead and Highgate 355 
			 Harborough 290 
			 Harlow 295 
			 Harrogate and Knaresborough 315 
			 Harrow East 280 
			 Harrow West 295 
			 Hartlepool 150 
			 Harwich 290 
			 Hastings and Rye 370 
			 Havant 215 
			 Hayes and Harlington 165 
			 Hazel Grove 200 
			 Hemel Hempstead 315 
			 Hemsworth 210 
			 Hendon 355 
			 Henley 335 
			 Hereford 335 
			 Hertford and Stortford 390 
			 Hertsmere 255 
			 Hexham 220 
			 Heywood and Middleton 200 
			 High Peak 295 
			 Hitchin and Harpenden 385 
			 Holborn and St. Pancras 335 
			 Hornchurch 160 
			 Hornsey and Wood Green 500 
			 Horsham 415 
			 Houghton and Washington East 120 
			 Hove 375 
			 Huddersfield 165 
			 Huntingdon 545 
			 Hyndburn 155 
			 Ilford North 220 
			 Ilford South 245 
			 Ipswich 305 
			 Isle of Wight 630 
			 Islington North 325 
			 Islington South and Finsbury 305 
			 Jarrow 135 
			 Keighley 230 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 280 
			 Kettering 385 
			 Kingston and Surbiton 340 
			 Kingston upon Hull East 105 
			 Kingston upon Hull North 175 
			 Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle 130 
			 Kingswood 305 
			 Knowsley North and Sefton East 100 
			 Knowsley South 115 
			 Lancaster and Wyre 275 
			 Leeds Central 210 
			 Leeds East 100 
			 Leeds North East 245 
			 Leeds North West 230 
			 Leeds West 210 
			 Leicester East 150 
			 Leicester South 250 
			 Leicester West 250 
			 Leigh 155 
			 Leominster 270 
			 Lewes 330 
			 Lewisham, Deptford 340 
			 Lewisham East 285 
			 Lewisham West 345 
			 Leyton and Wanstead 340 
			 Lichfield 225 
			 Lincoln 375 
			 Liverpool, Garston 125 
			 Liverpool, Riverside 185 
			 Liverpool, Walton 105 
			 Liverpool, Wavertree 145 
			 Liverpool, West Derby 110 
			 Loughborough 265 
			 Louth and Horncastle 310 
			 Ludlow 240 
			 Luton North 200 
			 Luton South 260 
			 Macclesfield 265 
			 Maidenhead 335 
			 Maidstone and The Weald 390 
			 Makerfield 135 
			 Maldon and East Chelmsford 290 
			 Manchester, Blackley 195 
			 Manchester, Central 290 
			 Manchester, Gorton 235 
			 Manchester, Withington 305 
			 Mansfield 255 
			 Medway 300 
			 Meriden 215 
			 Mid Bedfordshire 420 
			 Mid Dorset and North Poole 295 
			 Mid Norfolk 345 
			 Mid Sussex 395 
			 Mid Worcestershire 270 
			 Middlesbrough 115 
			 Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland 190 
			 Milton Keynes South West 895 
			 Mitcham and Morden 260 
			 Mole Valley 325 
			 Morecambe and Lunesdale 200 
			 Morley and Rothwell 210 
			 New Forest East 250 
			 New Forest West 225 
			 Newark 260 
			 Newbury 415 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne Central 215 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend 155 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne North 180 
			 Newcastle-under-Lyme 185 
			 Normanton 210 
			 North Cornwall 405 
			 North Devon 380 
			 North Dorset 400 
			 North Durham 160 
			 North East Bedfordshire 340 
			 North East Cambridgeshire 385 
			 North East Derbyshire 200 
			 North East Hampshire 420 
			 North East Hertfordshire 355 
			 North East Milton Keynes 1,025 
			 North Essex 295 
			 North Norfolk 375 
			 North Shropshire 260 
			 North Southwark and Bermondsey 370 
			 North Swindon 300 
			 North Thanet 255 
			 North Tyneside 205 
			 North Warwickshire 180 
			 North West Cambridgeshire 485 
			 North West Durham 205 
			 North West Hampshire 430 
			 North West Leicestershire 235 
			 North West Norfolk 320 
			 North Wiltshire 475 
			 Northampton North 275 
			 Northampton South 505 
			 Northavon 325 
			 Norwich North 355 
			 Norwich South 390 
			 Nottingham East 310 
			 Nottingham North 205 
			 Nottingham South 260 
			 Nuneaton 220 
			 Old Bexley and Sidcup 230 
			 Oldham East and Saddleworth 205 
			 Oldham West and Royton 155 
			 Orpington 310 
			 Oxford East 410 
			 Oxford West and Abingdon 470 
			 Pendle 155 
			 Penrith and The Border 235 
			 Peterborough 365 
			 Plymouth, Devonport 275 
			 Plymouth, Sutton 325 
			 Pontefract and Castleford 155 
			 Poole 285 
			 Poplar and Canning Town 340 
			 Portsmouth North 265 
			 Portsmouth South 385 
			 Preston 170 
			 Pudsey 250 
			 Putney 325 
			 Rayleigh 270 
			 Reading East 435 
			 Reading West 350 
			 Redcar 160 
			 Redditch 245 
			 Regents Park and Kensington North 350 
			 Reigate 345 
			 Ribble Valley 185 
			 Richmond Yorks 285 
			 Richmond Park 395 
			 Rochdale 190 
			 Rochford and Southend East 345 
			 Romford 210 
			 Romsey 275 
			 Rossendale and Darwen 205 
			 Rother Valley 175 
			 Rotherham 125 
			 Rugby and Kenilworth 325 
			 Ruislip-Northwood 235 
			 Runnymede and Weybridge 290 
			 Rushcliffe 385 
			 Rutland and Melton 320 
			 Ryedale 240 
			 Saffron Walden 430 
			 St. Albans 370 
			 St. Helens North 165 
			 St. Helens South 150 
			 St. Ives 370 
			 Salford 165 
			 Salisbury 565 
			 Scarborough and Whitby 270 
			 Scunthorpe 150 
			 Sedgefield 155 
			 Selby 275 
			 Sevenoaks 285 
			 Sheffield, Attercliffe 140 
			 Sheffield, Brightside 100 
			 Sheffield Central 210 
			 Sheffield, Hallam 200 
			 Sheffield, Heeley 155 
			 Sheffield, Hillsborough 210 
			 Sherwood 285 
			 Shipley 270 
			 Shrewsbury and Atcham 340 
			 Sittingbourne and Sheppey 320 
			 Skipton and Ripon 265 
			 Sleaford and North Hykeham 510 
			 Slough 295 
			 Solihull 270 
			 Somerton and Frome 320 
			 South Cambridgeshire 495 
			 South Derbyshire 275 
			 South Dorset 380 
			 South East Cambridgeshire 545 
			 South East Cornwall 340 
			 South Holland and The Deepings 305 
			 South Norfolk 380 
			 South Ribble 160 
			 South Shields 125 
			 South Staffordshire 180 
			 South Suffolk 310 
			 South Swindon 370 
			 South Thanet 260 
			 South West Bedfordshire 385 
			 South West Devon 310 
			 South West Hertfordshire 420 
			 South West Norfolk 480 
			 South West Surrey 345 
			 Southampton, Itchen 275 
			 Southampton, Test 315 
			 Southend West 340 
			 Southport 245 
			 Spelthorne 265 
			 Stafford 300 
			 Staffordshire Moorlands 165 
			 Stalybridge and Hyde 205 
			 Stevenage 335 
			 Stockport 255 
			 Stockton North 155 
			 Stockton South 250 
			 Stoke-on-Trent Central 155 
			 Stoke-on-Trent North 150 
			 Stoke-on-Trent South 185 
			 Stone 220 
			 Stourbridge 210 
			 Stratford-on-Avon 360 
			 Streatham 405 
			 Stretford and Urmston 280 
			 Stroud 330 
			 Suffolk Coastal 380 
			 Sunderland North 90 
			 Sunderland South 85 
			 Surrey Heath 365 
			 Sutton and Cheam 250 
			 Sutton Coldfield 295 
			 Tamworth 230 
			 Tatton 230 
			 Taunton 340 
			 Teignbridge 410 
			 Telford 210 
			 Tewkesbury 275 
			 The Wrekin 310 
			 Thurrock 320 
			 Tiverton and Honiton 365 
			 Tonbridge and Malling 305 
			 Tooting 420 
			 Torbay 380 
			 Torridge and West Devon 450 
			 Totnes 315 
			 Tottenham 365 
			 Truro and St. Austell 310 
			 Tunbridge Wells 330 
			 Twickenham 450 
			 Tyne Bridge 165 
			 Tynemouth 300 
			 Upminster 170 
			 Uxbridge 265 
			 Vale of York 335 
			 Vauxhall 370 
			 Wakefield 240 
			 Wallasey 205 
			 Walsall North 150 
			 Walsall South 145 
			 Walthamstow 345 
			 Wansbeck 185 
			 Wansdyke 255 
			 Wantage 465 
			 Warley 180 
			 Warrington North 225 
			 Warrington South 265 
			 Warwick and Leamington 335 
			 Watford 375 
			 Waveney 360 
			 Wealden 380 
			 Weaver Vale 230 
			 Wellingborough 425 
			 Wells 350 
			 Welwyn Hatfield 295 
			 Wentworth 130 
			 West Bromwich East 130 
			 West Bromwich West 125 
			 West Chelmsford 400 
			 West Derbyshire 290 
			 West Dorset 345 
			 West Ham 260 
			 West Lancashire 170 
			 West Suffolk 300 
			 West Worcestershire 245 
			 Westbury 370 
			 Westmorland and Lonsdale 260 
			 Weston-Super-Mare 335 
			 Wigan 140 
			 Wimbledon 350 
			 Winchester 450 
			 Windsor 330 
			 Wirral South 180 
			 Wirral West 235 
			 Witney 415 
			 Woking 395 
			 Wokingham 385 
			 Wolverhampton North East 130 
			 Wolverhampton South East 105 
			 Wolverhampton South West 190 
			 Woodspring 280 
			 Worcester 275 
			 Workington 200 
			 Worsley 185 
			 Worthing West 240 
			 Wycombe 330 
			 Wyre Forest 240 
			 Wythenshawe and Sale East 265 
			 Yeovil 350 
			 Aberavon 120 
			 Alyn and Deeside 175 
			 Blaenau Gwent 90 
			 Brecon and Radnorshire 210 
			 Bridgend 215 
			 Caernarfon 130 
			 Caerphilly 155 
			 Cardiff Central 250 
			 Cardiff North 215 
			 Cardiff South and Penarth 240 
			 Cardiff West 225 
			 Carmarthen East and Dinefwr 145 
			 Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire 160 
			 Ceredigion 200 
			 Clwyd South 175 
			 Clwyd West 165 
			 Conwy 165 
			 Cynon Valley 85 
			 Delyn 165 
			 Gower 145 
			 Islwyn 120 
			 Llanelli 135 
			 Meirionnydd Nant Conwy 100 
			 Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney 100 
			 Monmouth 265 
			 Montgomeryshire 185 
			 Neath 150 
			 Newport East 150 
			 Newport West 165 
			 Ogmore 135 
			 Pontypridd 170 
			 Preseli Pembrokeshire 195 
			 Rhondda 70 
			 Swansea East 140 
			 Swansea West 150 
			 Torfaen 155 
			 Vale of Clwyd 140 
			 Vale of Glamorgan 265 
			 Wrexham 125 
			 Ynys Mon 165 
			 Aberdeen Central 270 
			 Aberdeen North 185 
			 Aberdeen South 235 
			 Airdrie and Shotts 145 
			 Angus 210 
			 Argyll and Bute 255 
			 Ayr 155 
			 Banff and Buchan 225 
			 Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross 245 
			 Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley 165 
			 Central Fife 135 
			 Clydebank and Milngavie 140 
			 Clydesdale 205 
			 Coatbridge and Chryston 135 
			 Cumbernauld and Kilsyth 150 
			 Cunninghame North 200 
			 Cunninghame South 105 
			 Dumbarton 240 
			 Dumfries 195 
			 Dundee East 155 
			 Dundee West 145 
			 Dunfermline East 160 
			 Dunfermline West 230 
			 East Kilbride 225 
			 East Lothian 220 
			 Eastwood 185 
			 Edinburgh Central 390 
			 Edinburgh East and Musselburgh 280 
			 Edinburgh North and Leith 430 
			 Edinburgh Pentlands 235 
			 Edinburgh South 310 
			 Edinburgh West 245 
			 Falkirk East 175 
			 Falkirk West 195 
			 Galloway and Upper Nithsdale 195 
			 Glasgow Anniesland 125 
			 Glasgow Baillieston 75 
			 Glasgow Cathcart 160 
			 Glasgow Govan 185 
			 Glasgow Kelvin 245 
			 Glasgow Maryhill 130 
			 Glasgow Pollok 95 
			 Glasgow Rutherglen 120 
			 Glasgow Shettleston 105 
			 Glasgow Springburn 120 
			 Gordon 280 
			 Greenock and Inverclyde 130 
			 Hamilton North and Bellshill 120 
			 Hamilton South 105 
			 Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber 350 
			 Kilmarnock and Loudoun 155 
			 Kirkcaldy 145 
			 Linlithgow 220 
			 Livingston 265 
			 Midlothian 150 
			 Moray 360 
			 Motherwell and Wishaw 125 
			 North East Fife 250 
			 North Tayside 215 
			 Ochil 185 
			 Orkney and Shetland 260 
			 Paisley North 115 
			 Paisley South 95 
			 Perth 290 
			 Ross, Skye and Inverness West 315 
			 Roxburgh and Berwickshire 180 
			 Stirling 185 
			 Strathkelvin and Bearsden 205 
			 Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale 250 
			 West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine 320 
			 West Renfrewshire 150 
			 Western Isles 125 
			 Belfast East 205 
			 Belfast North 155 
			 Belfast South 300 
			 Belfast West 130 
			 East Antrim 205 
			 East Londonderry 200 
			 Fermanagh and South Tyrone 185 
			 Foyle 255 
			 Lagan Valley 265 
			 Mid Ulster 110 
			 Newry and Armagh 165 
			 North Antrim 230 
			 North Down 225 
			 South Antrim 240 
			 South Down 190 
			 Strangford 230 
			 Upper Bann 245 
			 West Tyrone 150 
			 Guernsey 640 
			 Isle of Man 320 
			   
			 Total UK 173,115 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are based on a HESA Standard Registration Population and have been rounded to the nearest five, so components may not sum to the total. 2. These figures exclude 3,445 students whose parliamentary constituency was not known. This includes a small number of overseas students.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)

TRANSPORT

Departmental Vehicles

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1008W, on departmental vehicles, what the cost of maintaining and servicing vehicles owned by her Department and its agencies was in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The requested information, where available, has been placed in the Library of the House.

Heathrow Airport: Public Transport

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans she has to improve transport links between the South West and Heathrow airport.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The AirTrack scheme, on which BAA is currently consulting, and for which they are preparing a Transport and Works Act application, would provide a direct rail link from Heathrow Terminal five to the rail network to the south and west at Staines. Crossrail would also provide additional rail access to the airport, including to mainline train services to the south west. The upgrade of Reading station will benefit passengers on the Great Western main line travelling to the airport. The Highways Agency is developing technology schemes to improve journey time reliability on the M3 and M4.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Pay

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she will publish the Maritime and Coastguard Agency pay comparison study.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has published its recent pay benchmarking analysis on its internal website.
	A version of this analysis will be placed in the Libraries of the House once all commercial aspects have been checked.

Roads: Accidents

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2008,  Official Report, column 737W, on roads: accidents, how many  (a) deaths and  (b) injuries occurred on roads in (i) Cornwall and (ii) England in each year from 2001 to 2005, broken down by age group of those so killed and injured.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The numbers of deaths and injuries resulting from reported personal injury road accidents in Cornwall and England in 2001 to 2005 by age of casualty are shown in the tables.
	
		
			  Casualties resulting from reported personal injury road accidents, by age of casualty: Cornwall 2001-2005 
			   Number of casualties 
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			  Age  Killed  Injured( 1)  Killed  Injured( 1)  Killed  Injured( 1)  Killed  Injured( 1)  Killed  Injured( 1) 
			 0-4 0 46 1 37 0 31 0 43 0 19 
			 5-7 0 37 1 53 0 38 0 51 0 25 
			 8-11 0 101 2 93 0 88 0 84 0 63 
			 12-15 1 124 1 128 0 97 1 136 1 91 
			 16-19 4 376 10 411 5 440 7 444 6 470 
			 20-29 9 574 11 521 5 582 10 551 17 552 
			 30-39 7 468 7 442 2 480 7 348 6 399 
			 40-49 4 315 6 300 6 350 8 305 2 308 
			 50-59 8 485 4 375 3 266 5 229 3 254 
			 60-69 1 136 1 140 3 160 3 159 8 129 
			 70-79 3 93 5 90 2 113 2 95 1 96 
			 80+ 3 54 4 59 3 82 1 46 1 58 
			 Total(2) 40 2,809 53 2,676 30 2,816 44 2,694 45 2,855 
			 (1) Slightly or seriously injured  (2) Includes cases where age of casualty is not reported. 
		
	
	
		
			  Casualties resulting from reported personal injury road accidents, by age of casualty: England 2001-2005 
			   Number of casualties 
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Age  Killed  Injured( 1)  Killed  Injured( 1)  Killed  Injured( 1)  Killed  Injured( 1)  Killed  Injured( 1) 
			 0-4 33 4,542 31 4,031 28 3,815 24 3,447 24 3,181 
			 5-7 25 5,095 21 4,621 15 4,156 13 3,920 12 3,529 
			 8-11 38 10,590 26 9,156 26 8,215 30 7,939 21 7,228 
			 12-15 90 13,035 78 12,137 72 11,462 78 11,619 66 10,514 
			 16-19 304 30,460 332 30,025 348 29,601 347 29,641 326 29,579 
			 20-29 620 64,242 689 62,084 670 58,485 614 56,606 649 54,946 
			 30-39 546 56,486 498 53,751 507 50,227 490 46,682 438 43,875 
			 40-49 297 34,880 364 34,497 388 34,312 318 33,518 339 33,338 
			 50-59 260 23,622 269 23,006 276 22,136 222 21,501 270 21,278 
			 60-69 210 12,796 176 12,176 204 12,346 163 11,724 161 11,371 
			 70-79 238 8,655 229 8,587 237 8,193 186 7,821 194 7,370 
			 80+ 223 4,380 236 4,385 216 4,313 211 4,257 226 4,137 
			 Total(2) 2,916 276,762 2,980 266,040 3,004 254,895 2,714 246,048 2,735 237,749 
			 (1) Slightly or seriously injured.  (2) Includes cases where age of casualty is not reported.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, dated 18 January, about cuts to grants for the arts DCMS Ref: 86913.

Margaret Hodge: I replied to the letter of 18 January from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire on 23 February.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Boyhood to Manhood Foundation

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding her Department provides to the from Boyhood to Manhood Foundation.

Vernon Coaker: The From Boyhood to Manhood Foundation received £4,980 from the fifth round of the connected fund, and £4,950 from the sixth round, which was completed in August 2007. We are working with the organisation to help it develop its business plans for the longer term but are also currently finalising an immediate grant payment so that they may continue their services to boys and young men who may otherwise fall into criminal activity.

Crime: Rural Areas

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) burglaries,  (b) offences involving violence against the person,  (c) sexual offences and  (d) car and property crimes there were in rural areas in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Table 1: numbers of offences recorded in rural police force areas—1997 
			  Police force area  Offence  1997 
			 Cambridgeshire Violence against the person 3,364 
			  Sexual offences 390 
			  Burglary 12,668 
			  Property crime 55,343 
			  Vehicle crime 15,344 
			
			 Cumbria Violence against the person 2,828 
			  Sexual offences 229 
			  Burglary 6,868 
			  Property crime 32,224 
			  Vehicle crime 7,207 
			
			 Devon and Cornwall Violence against the person 6,549 
			  Sexual offences 808 
			  Burglary 20,017 
			  Property crime 85,692 
			  Vehicle crime 23,233 
			
			 Durham Violence against the person 1,924 
			  Sexual offences 341 
			  Burglary 12,209 
			  Property crime 44,514 
			  Vehicle crime 11,108 
			
			 Dyfed-Powys Violence against the person 2,132 
			  Sexual offences 337 
			  Burglary 2,590 
			  Property crime 14,722 
			  Vehicle crime 2,372 
			
			 Gloucestershire Violence against the person 1,456 
			  Sexual offences 240 
			  Burglary 11,559 
			  Property crime 44,990 
			  Vehicle crime 13,748 
			
			 Lincolnshire Violence against the person 3,051 
			  Sexual offences 329 
			  Burglary 10,551 
			  Property crime 39,163 
			  Vehicle crime 7,624 
			
			 Norfolk Violence against the person 2,889 
			  Sexual offences 487 
			  Burglary 10,935 
			  Property crime 49,038 
			  Vehicle crime 11,890 
			
			 North Wales Violence against the person 2,575 
			  Sexual offences 480 
			  Burglary 7,554 
			  Properly crime 36,980 
			  Vehicle crime 7,911 
			
			 North Yorkshire Violence against the person 2,425 
			  Sexual offences 262 
			  Burglary 11,359 
			  Property crime 46,898 
			  Vehicle crime 11,721 
			
			 Suffolk Violence against the person 2,448 
			  Sexual offences 400 
			  Burglary 6,094 
			  Property crime 31,997 
			  Vehicle crime 6,687 
			
			 West Mercia Violence against the person 3,175 
			  Sexual offences 751 
			  Burglary 16,334 
			  Property crime 71,410 
			  Vehicle crime 18,924 
			
			 Wiltshire Violence against the person 2,373 
			  Sexual offences 355 
			  Burglary 6,361 
			  Property crime 29,727 
			  Vehicle crime 7,524 
			  Note: The defining of rural police force areas within England and Wales has been taken in accordance with the ACORN ('A Classification Of Residential Neighbourhoods') guidance as published in the Statistical Bulletin 01/02 'Rural Crime England and Wales'. Of the 13 forces given in the table, ACORN defines four of them as 'Most Rural' (Dyfed-Powys, Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire and North Wales), and nine of them as 'Less Rural' (Cambridgeshire, Cumbria, Devon and Cornwall, Durham, Gloucestershire, Norfolk, Suffolk, West Mercia and Wiltshire). 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: numbers of offences recorded in rural police force areas, 1998-99 to 2001-02 
			  Police force area  Offence  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02 
			 Cambridgeshire Violence against the person 5,345 6,090 6,416 7,345 
			  Sexual offences 431 418 464 560 
			  Burglary 12,759 12,377 10,243 11,161 
			  Property crime 59,026 59,810 55,346 59,362 
			  Vehicle crime 13,233 12,443 11,348 12,745 
			   
			 Cumbria Violence against the person 5,582 5,142 4,152 5,334 
			  Sexual offences 200 224 168 199 
			  Burglary 5,812 5,455 4,782 4,942 
			  Property crime 32,109 30,395 27,117 30,254 
			  Vehicle crime 6,477 5,414 4,278 4,483 
			   
			 Devon and Cornwall Violence against the person 11,758 12,479 11,992 12,434 
			  Sexual offences 876 936 911 960 
			  Burglary 17,808 17,307 15,606 15,257 
			  Property crime 92,381 91,288 84,823 82,186 
			  Vehicle crime 22,270 21,438 20,145 17,549 
			   
			 Durham Violence against the person 4,955 5,397 5,180 6,410 
			  Sexual offences 243 251 238 333 
			  Burglary 10,135 9,083 7,626 8,864 
			  Property crime 42,891 40,886 37,128 42,340 
			  Vehicle crime 10,056 9,126 8,047 7,798 
			   
			 Dyfed-Powys Violence against the person 4,680 5,519 5,424 5,517 
			  Sexual offences 317 292 304 292 
			  Burglary 2,615 2,072 1,978 2,122 
			  Property crime 16,216 14,999 14,788 14,928 
			  Vehicle crime 2,480 2,203 2,120 2,050 
			   
			 Gloucestershire Violence against the person 3,230 4,240 4,998 4,695 
			  Sexual offences 344 323 348 267 
			  Burglary 10,111 9,308 7,809 8,468 
			  Property crime 42,676 44,221 42,221 43,128 
			  Vehicle crime 11,196 10,244 8,464 8,140 
			   
			 Lincolnshire Violence against the person 4,239 3,866 3,743 4,812 
			  Sexual offences 393 325 281 414 
			  Burglary 10,257 10,719 9,583 9,592 
			  Property crime 40,036 40,302 39,261 42,565 
			  Vehicle crime 6,944 6,871 6,627 6,782 
			   
			 Norfolk Violence against the person 5,461 6,382 5,777 6,021 
			  Sexual offences 508 415 364 509 
			  Burglary 10,154 10,243 9,450 9,043 
			  Property crime 48,725 50,132 49,168 50,355 
			  Vehicle crime 10,834 10,428 9,823 9,797 
			   
			 North Wales Violence against the person 4,703 5,739 5,358 7,349 
			  Sexual offences 334 373 406 466 
			  Burglary 7,226 6,892 7,246 7,368 
			  Property crime 36,178 36,21 1 39,711 43,798 
			  Vehicle crime 7,254 7,501 7,186 7,661 
			   
			 North Yorkshire Violence against the person 4,827 5,101 4,898 5,624 
			  Sexual offences 297 294 289 346 
			  Burglary 11,237 10,402 9,829 11,656 
			  Property crime 47,780 45,896 44,290 50,771 
			  Vehicle crime 9,641 8,596 7,585 8,171 
			   
			 Suffolk Violence against the person 3,820 5,303 6,395 7,353 
			  Sexual offences 405 389 421 486 
			  Burglary 6,241 6,214 5,738 6,346 
			  Property crime 33,335 35,365 35,456 40,288 
			  Vehicle crime 6,446 6,501 6,291 6,915 
			   
			 West Mercia Violence against the person 6,995 8,213 7,805 17,032 
			  Sexual offences 618 585 537 806 
			  Burglary 14,631 14,313 13,369 15,398 
			  Property crime 70,058 72,272 66,487 80,214 
			  Vehicle crime 16,174 15,743 13,218 13,061 
			   
			 Wiltshire Violence against the person 4,390 4,519 4,515 4,379 
			  Sexual offences 404 358 334 378 
			  Burglary 6,129 5,718 5,043 5,824 
			  Property crime 31,511 31,701 30,047 32,191 
			  Vehicle crime 6,759 6,598 5,271 5,264 
			  Notes: 1. The offence coverage was extended and counting rules revised from 1998-99. Figures from that date are not directly comparable with those for 1997. 2. The data in this table is prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS). These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: numbers of offences recorded in rural police force areas, 2002-03 to 2006-07 
			  Police force area  Offence  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Cambridgeshire Violence against the person 12,574 13,663 13,358 10,158 10,421 
			  Sexual offences 811 839 771 798 714 
			  Burglary 12,775 10,257 8,501 8,217 8,821 
			  Property crime 68,904 62,777 56,949 52,888 54,229 
			  Vehicle crime 13,345 10,672 9,169 8,345 8,776 
			
			 Cumbria Violence against the person 5,725 6,874 9,195 9,206 8,187 
			  Sexual offences 218 298 344 348 313 
			  Burglary 4,895 4,613 4,274 3,450 3,096 
			  Property crime 30,054 30,570 31,712 30,783 27,875 
			  Vehicle crime 4,753 4,114 3,941 3,178 2,845 
			
			 Devon and Cornwall Violence against the person 23,720 25,969 28,335 25,305 25,027 
			  Sexual offences 1,380 1,570 1,586 1,527 1,469 
			  Burglary 15,700 14,024 14,012 12,519 12,459 
			  Property crime 99,564 97,289 97,128 91,231 91,968 
			  Vehicle crime 19,377 16,601 14,990 13,844 13,405 
			
			 Durham Violence against the person 7,711 6,565 7,027 9,899 10,017 
			  Sexual offences 460 416 447 694 470 
			  Burglary 7,656 7,083 6,853 6,660 6,706 
			  Property crime 40,758 39,373 37,829 40,083 40,236 
			  Vehicle crime 7,446 7,073 5,503 6,086 6,129 
			
			 Dyfed-Powys Violence against the person 6,217 7,909 8,315 7,711 7,694 
			  Sexual offences 298 481 508 440 403 
			  Burglary 2,104 2,703 2,875 2,240 2,232 
			  Property crime 14,802 19,628 20,744 19,039 18,940 
			  Vehicle crime 2,028 2,325 2,331 1,869 2,005 
			
			 Gloucestershire Violence against the person 7,734 8,303 9,549 10,496 10,831 
			  Sexual offences 519 477 549 670 667 
			  Burglary 8,694 9,072 7,142 6,260 6,413 
			  Property crime 45,110 46,879 41,057 39,302 38,561 
			  Vehicle crime 7,740 8,407 6,759 5,698 5,263 
			
			 Lincolnshire Violence against the person 9,238 10,148 10,856 10,726 10,257 
			  Sexual offences 705 752 824 670 651 
			  Burglary 10,831 9,052 7,306 7,145 6,601 
			  Property crime 49,850 47,213 44,620 43,752 41,920 
			  Vehicle crime 7,857 6,503 5.907 5,805 5,418 
			
			 Norfolk Violence against the person 10,607 11,586 12,920 12,504 11,582 
			  Sexual offences 743 861 896 1,473 726 
			  Burglary 9,681 8,169 6,577 6,000 5,591 
			  Property crime 57,271 54,759 49,999 47,975 47,152 
			  Vehicle crime 10,739 8,396 6,291 5,389 5,498 
			
			 North Wales Violence against the person 11,472 10,979 12,021 12,330 14,423 
			  Sexual offences 691 677 670 647 599 
			  Burglary 8,534 7,301 5,008 4,471 4,565 
			  Property crime 50,250 47,526 38,448 34,199 35,331 
			  Vehicle crime 8,093 7,613 5,349 4,157 4,304 
			
			 North Yorkshire Violence against the person 8,108 9,610 12,045 11,473 10,087 
			  Sexual offences 504 596 563 631 590 
			  Burglary 11,511 11,062 7,759 7,324 6,836 
			  Property crime 56,026 58,530 46,312 43,937 41,219 
			  Vehicle crime 9,570 9,516 6,476 6,743 6,220 
			
			 Suffolk Violence against the person 7,949 9,529 10,347 10,017 10,190 
			  Sexual offences 675 750 623 662 699 
			  Burglary 6,248 6,396 5,090 5,292 5,162 
			  Property crime 38,969 40,143 38,098 38,947 37,292 
			  Vehicle crime 6,282 5,782 5,463 5,281 5,398 
			
			 West Mercia Violence against the person 19,848 21,867 18,179 15,699 16,010 
			  Sexual offences 1,066 1,145 1,158 1,014 917 
			  Burglary 16,375 15,015 12,424 11,066 9,529 
			  Property crime 80,028 79,599 71,479 64,217 60,659 
			  Vehicle crime 13,076 12,134 10,943 9,752 8,865 
			
			 Wiltshire Violence against the person 6,419 6,302 6,004 7,488 8,676 
			  Sexual offences 705 672 548 575 575 
			  Burglary 6,242 5,929 5,120 4,791 5,142 
			  Property crime 35,346 34,247 31,634 31,897 34,049 
			  Vehicle crime 5,551 5,450 4,945 4,349 4,700 
			  Notes: 1. The data in this table takes account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) in April 2002. 2. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years. 3. The Sexual Offences Act 2003, introduced in May 2004, altered the definition and coverage of sexual offences.

Crime: Rural Areas

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the recorded level of rural crime was in each of the last five years; and what steps are being taken to combat rural crime.

Vernon Coaker: The available information is given in the following table. Offences recorded by the police in rural police force areas fell by 9 per cent. between 2002-03 and 2006-07.
	The Home Office has undertaken a number of actions which directly benefit rural communities. These include:
	Establishing farm, horse, country and poacher watch schemes
	Introducing measures to increase the number of special constables many of whom volunteer in rural police forces. As at 31 March 2007, the figures were at a high of 14,021 which were in part as a result of Specials Capacity Building funding.
	
		
			  Total offences recorded by the police in rural police force areas 
			  Financial year  Number of offences 
			 2002-03 851,062 
			 2003-04 855,330 
			 2004-05 810,520 
			 2005-06 782,424 
			 2006-07 772,409 
			  Note: The defining of rural police force areas within England and Wales has been taken in accordance with the ACORN ("A Classification Of Residential Neighbourhoods") guidance as published in the Statistical Bulletin 01/02 "Rural Crime England and Wales". The data covers 13 forces which ACORN defines as either 'Most Rural' (Dyfed-Powys, Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire and North Wales) or 'Less Rural' (Cambridgeshire, Cumbria, Devon and Cornwall, Durham, Gloucestershire, Norfolk, Suffolk, West Mercia and Wiltshire).

Illegal Immigrants: Ukraine

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with her counterparts in  (a) Ukraine,  (b) Belarus and  (c) Moldova on combating illegal migration and human trafficking.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 27 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1660W.

Immigration Controls

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government have taken to improve the UK's immigration system since 1997.

Liam Byrne: I refer my hon. Friend to the statement by the Home Secretary on 20 February 2008,  Official Report, column 351, in which she outlines both the substantial progress that has been made in improving our immigration system and the Government's plans for the next phase of immigration reform—a new deal for citizenship.

Immigration: Children

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to her written ministerial statement of 31 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 28-9WS, on care for children in the immigration system, how many unaccompanied asylum seeking children looked after by local authorities will be included in the specialist network; and what estimate she has made of how many each authority can be expected to look after when the special network is set up.

Liam Byrne: The proposed reforms will focus on unaccompanied asylum seeking children who arrive in the United Kingdom after the commencement of the new support arrangements. The proportion of the group that we place in the specialist network and the number that each authority can take is likely to vary from region to region and will depend on the outcome of discussions now underway with local authorities.

Migration Advisory Committee

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will include a representative of the British Chinese community on  (a) the Migration Advisory Committee and  (b) the Migration Impact Forum; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: There is no representative from that or any other community grouping on either body and no plan to appoint representatives at this time.
	The Migration Advisory Committee is an independent non-statutory non-departmental public body which will advise Government on where in the economy migration can sensibly fill skills gaps. It is a small committee whose members have been selected through open competition because of their knowledge and expertise. The only exception is that there is one ex officio member from the Sector Skills Development Agency, in recognition of the important link between migration and skills issues.
	The purpose of the Migration Impacts Forum is to provide a forum for regular and organised dialogue with frontline professionals outside central Government, focused on the wider impacts associated with migration experienced by local areas. Membership of the MIF includes representatives from local authorities, voluntary and public sectors, the CBI and the TUC.
	Both committees welcome representations from community groups.

HEALTH

Autism

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will allocate funds to research into the number of adults with autism;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the barriers to adults with autism to public services;
	(3)  what steps he is taking to improve the capacity of his Department to meet the needs of people with autism;
	(4)  if he will issue guidance to local authorities on reducing barriers to adults with autism to public services.

Ivan Lewis: The Department will be taking forward discussions with autism stakeholder organisations on future research.
	This work is being supported by the Department's recently appointed specialist adviser on autism whose role is to advise the Department and improve its capacity to meet the needs of people with autism.
	"Better services for people with an autistic spectrum disorder: A note clarifying current Government policy and describing good practice" was published on 16 November 2006. A copy is available in the Library. This document clarifies the nature and intent of existing Government policy as it relates to adults with an autistic spectrum disorder. It is intended to encourage people in the social care and health field to develop local agendas for action.

Breast Cancer: Lancashire

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many breast cancer screenings there were in Lancashire in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 26 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1444W.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to increase take-up of breast screening in prisons;
	(2)  what percentage of female prisoners eligible for breast screening have been screened in the last three years.

Ben Bradshaw: Information on the percentage of female prisoners eligible for breast screening is not held centrally.
	Commissioning responsibility for prison health services transferred to national health service primary care trusts (PCTs) in 2006. PCTs must now aim to provide health service of an equivalent range and quality to prisoners in their areas. All women prisoners over the age of 50 are therefore entitled to a mammogram.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of regional variations in take-up of breast cancer screening in each of the last three years;
	(2)  what percentage of women eligible to receive breast cancer screening have been screened in the last three years in England.

Ann Keen: The following table shows both the number of eligible women screened in the last three years and the regional variation of breast screening coverage.
	It is for strategic health authorities (SHAs) working in partnership with their primary care trusts, local screening services and stakeholders to provide appropriate screening services for their local populations.
	We are aware of the regional variations of breast screening coverage and Professor Mike Richards, National Cancer Director, has written to the chief executives of all 10 SHAs in England highlighting the future challenges facing breast screening and the importance of maintaining the 36-month screening interval.
	
		
			  Breast screening programme: coverage of women aged 53-64 by SHA( 1) , at 31 March 2005 to 2007 
			2005  2006  2007 
			Eligible population( 2)  Number of women screened  Coverage( 3)  (Percentage)  Eligible population( 2)  Number of women screened  Coverage( 3)  (Percentage)  Eligible population( 2)  Number of women screened  Coverage( 3)  (Percentage) 
			  England 3,574,534 2,697,665 75.5 3,633,181 2,756,716 75.9 3,690,074 2,805,717 76.0 
			 Q30 North East SHA 185,454 141,025 76.0 188,399 147,306 78.2 191,892 152,310 79.4 
			 Q31 North West SHA 497,861 376,263 75.6 503,667 373,302 74.1 509,688 377,215 74.0 
			 Q32 Yorkshire and the Humber SHA 362,359 278,103 76.7 367,582 285,477 77.7 373,320 282,165 75.6 
			 Q33 East Midlands SHA 314,378 253,352 80.6 320,704 261,389 81.5 326,715 264,296 80.9 
			 Q34 West Midlands SHA 385,779 300,696 77.9 390,722 304,653 78.0 395,515 311,203 78.7 
			 Q35 East of England SHA 411,562 319,669 77.7 419,809 321,241 76.5 426,810 322,621 75.6 
			 Q36 London SHA 426,185 273,910 64.3 432,043 276,066 63.9 438,260 284,901 65.0 
			 Q37 South East Coast SHA 317,070 242,571 76.5 322,580 250,263 77.6 327,879 256,412 78.2 
			 Q38 South Central SHA 277,173 221,312 79.8 282,724 225,029 79.6 287,677 228,549 79.4 
			 Q39 South West SHA 396,712 290,764 73.3 404,952 311,990 77.0 412,318 326,045 79.1 
			 (1) Historic data have been mapped to the current SHA structure. (2) This is the number of women in the registered population less those recorded as ineligible. (3) Less than three years since last test.  Notes: 1. The coverage of the breast screening programme is the proportion of women resident and eligible that have had a test with a recorded result at least once in the previous three years. Coverage of the screening programme is best assessed using the 53-64 age group as women may be first called at any time between their 50th and 53rd birthdays. 2. The breast screening programme covers women aged 50-64 but it was extended to invite women aged 65-70 in April 2001. 3. The last unit began inviting women aged 65-70 in April 2006 and full coverage should be achieved by 2008-09.  Source: KC63, the Information Centre for health and social care.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the study referred to in paragraph 7.28 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy on cancer treatments in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Ann Keen: A copy of the "Audit of Non Surgical Cancer Admissions Report", (without Appendix B), has been placed in the Library.
	Due to the level of detail it contains Appendix B has been withheld to safeguard patient confidentiality.

Cervical and Breast Cancer: Screening

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what funding is available to improve the take-up rate amongst women for cervical cancer screening;
	(2)  what funding is available to improve the take-up rate amongst women for breast cancer screening.

Ann Keen: Funding for both breast and cervical screening is allocated to primary care trusts (PCTs) on the basis of the relative needs of their populations, this includes funding for the promotion of screening.
	It is for strategic health authorities working in partnership with their PCTs, local screening services and stakeholders to provide appropriate screening services for their local populations and to ensure that they meet national standards.

Community Care: Medical Equipment

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1066W, on community care: medical equipment, which academic organisations form the consortia who will be assessing the whole system demonstrators.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 26 February 2008
	 The Department has been consulting with a number of eminent researchers from leading academic organisations in order to shape the evaluation methodology for the Whole System Demonstrator programme. These organisations include University College London, the London School of Economics, University of Oxford, Manchester University, Imperial College of London, the Kings Fund and Nuffield Trust together with the University of Birmingham.
	We are currently engaged in negotiations with these organisations to formalise contractual relationships to deliver this evaluation.

Departmental Consultants

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultancy contracts his Department issued in each year since 2005; what the  (a) value,  (b) purpose and  (c) contractor was in each case; and whether the consultant's report is publicly available in each case.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not collect information on consultancy contracts in the format requested. To do so would attract disproportionate cost.

Departmental Databases

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what databases are  (a) owned and  (b) maintained by (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department and its agencies have a number of databases that are used to support its internal management and business processes as well as the delivery of health and social care. Information relating to what databases are owned and maintained by the Department and its agencies has been placed in the Library.

Departmental ICT

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) mobile telephones,  (b) personal digital assistants and  (c) laptop computers issued to departmental staff were reported (i) lost, (ii) missing and (iii) stolen in each year since 2001.

Ben Bradshaw: We do not keep figures for missing assets. The figures below are reported losses and thefts, DH do not distinguish between these two groups.
	DH Losses / thefts of mobiles, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and laptops 2001-07:
	
		
			  Financial  y ear  Mobile phones  PDA's  Laptops 
			 2001-02 36 3 35 
			 2002-03 37 1 30 
			 2003-04 29 3 34 
			 2004-05 15 2 23 
			 2005-06 11 5 18 
			 2006-07 18 4 11 
			 Totals 146 18 151 
		
	
	Since 2005 all DH laptops been marked with a forensic dye as a proof of ownership and a high visibility label advertising this. Additionally laptops are encrypted to protect any information stored on them and PDAs wipe all the data stored on them after a series of failed attempts to enter the correct user ID and password.

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of his Department's personal digital assistants were  (a) lost and  (b) stolen in each of the last five years; and what the value of those items was.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department uses the Blackberry Enterprise Solution personal digital assistants (PDAs) with recommended procedures and configuration from the Government's technical security authority, CESG, as suitable for processing restricted information. This includes guidance on authentication standards and processes to protect information stored on the device. For example PDAs wipe all the data stored on them after a series of failed attempts to enter the correct user ID and password.
	The Department does not distinguish between losses and thefts.
	
		
			  DH reported losses / thefts for the period April 2002 to March 2007 
			  Financial year  PDAs  Cost (£) 
			 2002-03 1 247.71 
			 2003-04 3 1,107.29 
			 2004-05 2 757.87 
			 2005-06 4 1,822.04 
			 2006-07 5 1,617.40 
			 Total 15 5,552.31

Departmental Retirement

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff in his Department retired on grounds of stress-related illness in each of the last three years.

Ben Bradshaw: In each of the last three years, fewer than five individuals in the Department retired on grounds of stress-related illness.

Departmental Sick Pay

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of sickness pay to staff within his Department was in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: The annual report "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service 2006-07" reports the Department as having an average number of working days lost per staff year of 6.4. This equates to a salary cost of just under £2 million.

General Practitioners: Working Hours

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hours per 1,000 patients GP surgeries opened for on average per week in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not hold figures on numbers of opening hours of general practitioner (GP) practices.
	We have asked primary care trusts (PCTs) to carry out a baseline audit of current availability of current GP practice opening so that it is possible to measure the success of our aim of 50 per cent. of GP practices in each PCT are offering extending opening hours.

Health Services: Thames Gateway

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 1062-3W, on health services: Thames Gateway, whether changes to the levels of funding allocated to each of the primary care trusts in the Thurrock area have been made as a result of it being designated as a growth area by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Ben Bradshaw: A "growth area adjustment" is included in revenue allocations to primary care trusts (PCTs). This money is to support the development of sustainable communities and is for those PCTs that are going to experience considerable population growth as a direct consequence of the additional housing development in the growth areas. This adjustment is based on the additional increase in population, over and above Office of National Statistics population projections, that is due to the Government initiative. South West Essex PCT benefits significantly from a growth area adjustment to its weighted capitation target.

Hearing Impaired: Standards

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will consider introducing an 18-week target for all patients with hearing and balance disorders to be assessed by the appropriate specialist.

Ben Bradshaw: Patients referred for surgical or medical consultant-led care, will be covered by the target of treatment within 18 weeks of referral by December 2008. Local health bodies will not be credible in claiming success on meeting the 18-week target if large numbers of patients are affected by long waits for audiology treatment. From April 2008, the Department will collect information on waits for direct access audiology treatment for patients who are referred directly to audiologists or clinical scientists in audiological medicine.

Honours

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many members of the Senior Civil Service in his Department have received an honour.

Ben Bradshaw: The number of honours awarded to senior civil servants currently employed at the Department over a five-year period from the new year of 2004-08 is as follows:
	Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB): two;
	Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE): eight; and
	Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE): five.
	Data are not routinely kept by Department on:
	the number of awards held by individuals;
	awards that are not related to official duties; and
	awards already held by staff before joining the Department.

Hospitals: East of England

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many acute hospital beds per head of population there were in  (a) the former Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic Health Authority area,  (b) the East of England Strategic Health Authority area,  (c) the former Suffolk West Primary Care Trust area and  (d) Suffolk Primary Care Trust area in each year since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: Information is not available in the format requested. The following table shows the average daily number of available acute beds per 100,000 population for the period 2002-03 to 2006-07 for the organisations requested. Acute bed numbers will go down over time because of changes to the way services are delivered in the national health service (for instance, more services being provided in the community).
	
		
			   Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic Health Authority (SHA)  East of England SHA  Suffolk West Primary Care Trust 
			 2002-03 213.3 167.9 2.8 
			 2003-04 218.7 172.2 0 
			 2004-05 211.5 171.7 0 
			 2005-06 198.0 162.8 0 
			 2006-07 n/a 154.4 n/a 
			 n/a = not applicable  Notes: Due to SHA reconfigurations, data from prior to 2002-03 are not available at SHA level. East of England SHA was created in October 2006 following the merger of three SHAs (Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire SHA, Essex SHA and Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire SHA). Population data for mid-year 2007 and beds data for 2007-08 are not yet available. Suffolk West PCF only provided acute beds in 2002-03. They subsequently provided only geriatric beds. Suffolk West PCT was formed at the start of 2002-03 from Bury St. Edmonds PCG. The old organisation did not provide any beds. Suffolk PCT was formed in October 2006 from the merger of Suffolk Coastal PCT, Ipswich PCT, Central Suffolk PCT and Suffolk West PCT. Suffolk PCT does not provide any acute beds. Figures for 2002-03 to 2005-06 have been updated using revised population statistics issued by the Office for National Statistics.  Source:  Department of Health form KH03 and Office for National Statistics for population data.

Incontinence: Medical Equipment

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he plans to take to ensure continued innovation of new products via proposed changes to the arrangements under Part IX of the Drug Tariff;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect on the quality of patient care of the proposed changes to the arrangements under Part IX of the Drug Tariff;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the effect on patient choice of the proposed changes to the arrangements under Part IX of the Drug Tariff.

Dawn Primarolo: The review of part IX of the Drug Tariff is ongoing; no decisions have been made.
	Any proposed changes to the current arrangements would not be intended to stifle innovation. While the Department wishes to ensure both value for money for the national health service the maintenance of patient care, it also wants to ensure that any new arrangements are affordable by dispensing contractors and suppliers.
	The Department's assessment to date has been that the proposed changes to the arrangements under part IX of the Drug Tariff will ensure that no matter where in England a user of a stoma or urology appliance lives, her or his dispensing pharmacist or dispensing appliance contractor will dispense the appliance to the same standard. It is also of the view that these patients will have access to the same services no matter where they live, such as home delivery.
	The Department's view is that the proposed new arrangements would give patients greater choice as to who dispenses their appliance. It is also of the view that as no proposals have been put forward to remove any stoma or urology appliance from part IX of the Drug Tariff, patients—in consultation with their prescriber—will continue to have a full choice of appliances.
	The process of consultation has afforded interested parties the opportunity to put forward their assessment of the proposed changes and a final impact assessment will be published later in the year and all parties will have the opportunity to comment on it.

Local Involvement Networks: Trafford

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to put in place interim arrangements for the period between the closure of the Trafford Patient and Public Involvement Forum and the establishment of the Trafford Local Involvement Network.

Ann Keen: A local involvement network (LINk) transitional duty, which will be set out in regulations, will mean that for a period of up to six months, from 1 April 2008, local authorities (LAs) that have not yet successfully contracted with a host organisation, and as a result do not have working LINk arrangements in place, should make other arrangements for ensuring 'LINks activities' may be carried out. This could take a range of forms, although the LA itself will not be able to carry out the activities, nor will an national health service body.
	We would expect LAs to invite local people and patient and user organisations with an interest in, and knowledge of, health and social care to participate in what will be the core group of the LINk when a host is appointed.
	We strongly encourage LAs to seek people's input. Many organisations already have in place stakeholder groups, members of which may well be ideally placed to form the basis of the LINk, whether it be on a transitional basis or the final version. Clearly existing members of Patients' Forums are well placed to be involved early on, but LINks are to be formed of a much wider base and we have urged LAs seek the involvement of people involved in user and carer groups, and representatives from the wider voluntary and community sector too. Such action will help to ensure that a LA meets its transitional duty.
	From 1 April 2008, Trafford metropolitan borough council will be responsible for ensuring that LINk activities take place in its area. Trafford Primary Care Trust (PCT) is working closely with Trafford Council and other partner organisations to establish a Trafford LINk.
	Trafford PCT representatives are members on the following LINk related groups:
	LINk Task and Finish Group;
	LINk Procurement Group; and
	LINk Transitional Working Group.
	Trafford PCT is also a member of the Borough's Local Strategic Partnership (Trafford Partnership). The primary purpose is to enhance the quality of life and prosperity for all Trafford's residential and business communities. The PCT is currently involved in the development of Trafford Partnership's Community Engagement Strategy.
	After 1 April and LINks coming into force, Trafford PCT will continue engaging with its local population to ensure that commissioning processes are informed and influenced by the views and opinions of local people.

NHS: Hearing Impaired

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government has taken to improve NHS services for hearing and balance disorders.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 28 February 2008
	The Department published an audiology framework in March 2007, "Improving Access to Audiology Services in England", to help local health systems to transform the experience of the audiology service for all their patients, including those with hearing and balance problems. Further good practice guidance on audiology services, including hearing and balance disorders will be published later this year.

NHS: Private Sector

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will place copies in the Library of all guidance his Department has issued to the NHS on the mixing of public and private treatment  (a) within an episode of care and  (b) within a care pathway; how he defines an episode of care for the purposes of the former; when the guidance was last updated in each case; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his Department's policy is on the mixing of public and private treatment  (a) within an episode of care and  (b) within a care pathway; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what representations he has received from hon. Members,  ( a ) members of the public,  ( b ) clinicians and  ( c ) other interested parties on mixing NHS and private treatment in the last six months; what the content was of these representations; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: It is a long-standing principle that an individual cannot simultaneously be a national health service and a privately funded patient of the same national health service hospital within the same episode of care. Allowing top-up payments would risk creating a two-tier service, undermining the core principle of the NHS that treatment is provided free at the point of use, based on clinical need, not ability to pay. I also refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) on 18 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 723-24.
	Guidance issued to the NHS has established the basic principles of clear separation of public and private treatment. It is for NHS organisations to form policy in line with this guidance and decide the extent of an episode of care or care pathway where a patient decides to self-fund a treatment.
	Copies of the guidance are available in the Library. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Christchurch (Mr. Chope) on 22 January 2008,  Official Report, column 1939W, for details of the guidance.
	The Department has received a small number of representations from hon. Members, clinicians and the public on the issue of combining privately funded and NHS funded treatments in the last six months.

NHS: Standards

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what dates in the last six months officials in his Department discussed the Quality and Outcomes Framework with representatives of the British Medical Association; what the content of the discussions was; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: NHS Employers conduct negotiations on the general medical services contract with the General Practitioners Committee (GPC) of the British Medical Association. Officials from the Department are not normally present. Within the last six months, an official from the Department attended only one meeting of the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) Negotiating Sub Group, on 23 August 2007 as an observer. Wider meetings between departmental officials and representatives of the GPC do also take place regularly but not specifically to discuss changes to the QOF.

NHS: Standards

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire of 8 October 2007,  Official Report, column 300W, on NHS: standards, whether the team of experts appointed by NHS Employers and the British Medical Association submitted reports to Ministers to inform the review of the Quality and Outcomes Framework for 2008-09.

Ben Bradshaw: The expert panel reports written as part of the evidence gathering phase of the development of the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) are not submitted to Ministers. The reports are submitted to the QOF subgroup to inform the confidential negotiations between NHS Employers and the General Practitioners Committee of the British Medical Association, during negotiation of the general medical services contract. The negotiated agreement is subject to approval by Ministers.

Obesity: Greater London

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of obese people in each London borough in each of the last 10 years; and what steps he is taking to reduce obesity in London.

Dawn Primarolo: It is for primary care trusts (PCTs) to monitor the prevalence of obesity in their area and put in place strategies to address the situation. From April 2008, tackling child obesity will be a national priority for PCTs, working with their local partners. This was this set out in the national health service operating framework in December 2007.
	More generally, the 2007 comprehensive spending review resulted in a new ambition to reverse the rising tide of obesity and overweight in the population by enabling everyone to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Our initial focus is on children: by 2020, we aim to reduce the proportion of overweight and obese children to 2000 levels. The Government have mapped out how this ambition will be delivered in a new £372 million comprehensive cross Government strategy, "Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives", launched in January 2008. It identifies the following areas for action: children's health, healthier food choices, physical activity, health incentives and personalised advice and support.

Obesity: Health Education

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what public health campaigns targeted at the prevention and management of obesity his Department ran in each of the last five financial years; and what the  (a) start and  (b) end date was of each campaign;
	(2)  how much his Department  (a) allocated to and  (b) spent on public health campaigns targeted at the prevention and management of obesity in each of the last five financial years for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: Over the past five years, the Department has funded a range of initiatives and materials demonstrating its commitment to the prevention and management of obesity.
	The following table gives more information:
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Campaign  Started  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 5 a Day 2002- ongoing 0.50 0.48 1.03 0.90 0.92 
			 Maternal infant nutrition ongoing 0.28 0.46 0.75 0.74 0.73 
			 School fruit and veg 2001- ongoing 0.3 — 23.7 37.41 36.21 
		
	
	For obesity campaigns figures are only available for two financial years. In 2006-07 £6.1 million was allocated to obesity campaigns and £1.3 million spent and for 2007-08 the budget allocation was £2.47 million and the forecast is that we will spend £2.6 million.

Obesity: Surgery

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how his Department monitors primary care trusts' compliance with guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on obesity surgery.

Dawn Primarolo: Performance in implementing National Institute for Heath and Clinical Excellence (NICE) clinical guidelines is included within the scope of the Healthcare Commission's Annual Health check. The 2006-07 annual health check self-assessments, which have been subject to targeted and random inspections by the Healthcare Commission, show that 90 per cent. of national health service trusts have assessed themselves as making excellent, good or fair progress towards implementing NICE's clinical guidelines (obesity having a 96.7 per cent. compliance). The full ratings have been published on the Healthcare Commission's website at:
	www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/_db/_documents/Annual_health_check_national_overview_2006-2007.pdf

Organs: Donors

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what response he has made to the recent report of the Organ Donation Taskforce; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the potential increases in organ donations possible within the parameters of existing arrangements over the next five years;
	(3)  what steps his Department is taking to improve the infrastructure related to organ donations, with particular reference to histocompatibility and immunogenetics laboratories;
	(4)  what steps he is taking to encourage older people to become organ donors;
	(5)  what steps he is taking to encourage more organ donations from within black and ethnic communities;
	(6)  what research his Department has commissioned on providing recognition for the families of organ donors;
	(7)  what estimate he has made of the potential costs of the additional training for staff recommended by the Organ Donation Taskforce;
	(8)  what assessment he has made of the Organ Donation Taskforce's recommendations on a centralised system for organ donation which is UK-wide;
	(9)  what assessment he has made of obstacles within the system of organ donation to ensuring greater availability of organs for transplant; and if he will make a statement;
	(10)  what assessment he has made of the Organ Donation Taskforce's recommendation on the reinforcement of training in organ donation and the provision of regular refresher training for staff;
	(11)  what steps he is taking to increase the numbers of organ donor transplant co-ordinators;
	(12)  what recent discussions he has had on the creation of a UK-wide organ donation ethics group.

Ann Keen: The Government welcome the first report, "Organs for transplants: A Report from the Organ Donation Taskforce", and recommendations of the Organ Donation Taskforce, published on 16 January 2008, which have been accepted by all four United Kingdom Health Ministers. A copy of the report is available in the Library. The report usefully identifies the current barriers to donation in the UK and the investment necessary in the infrastructure to see organ donor rates rise to match other successful countries and achieve a 50 per cent. increase within five years.
	Funding of £11 million has been made available for 2008-09 with significant additional funding identified for subsequent years. Work has started with stakeholders to agree what further action, such as research, public awareness campaigns, training and work force requirements, is needed to enable each recommendation to be implemented.

Organs: Donors

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will hold discussions with his American counterparts on the implementation of real time information technology systems for the administration and co-ordination of organ donations.

Ann Keen: NHS Blood and Transplant has commissioned work to develop and design an electronic system for offering donor organs throughout the United Kingdom. It is hoped that a pilot phase will be introduced by September 2008.

Organs: Donors

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the average working hours of donor transplant co-ordinators in the most recent period for which figures are available; what assessment he has made of the stress on co-ordinators from their working hours; and if he will take steps to reduce that stress.

Ann Keen: The Government have accepted recommendations made by the Organ Donation Taskforce, in their report "Organs for Transplant" including the need to expand and strengthen the current network of donor transplant coordinators. To ensure a comprehensive highly skilled, specialised and robust service, extra coordinators will be recruited, and changes made to their employment, training and working arrangements.

Organs: Donors

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many organ donors were registered in  (a) Lancashire and  (b) England in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: This information is provided in the following tables.
	
		
			  National health service organ donor registrations, 2003 to 2007, residents in Lancashire and England 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  Total 
			 Lancashire(1) 17,892 21,246 25,823 25,990 23,500 144,451 
			 England(2) 756,588 868,333 927,390 1,010,600 864,637 4,227,548 
		
	
	
		
			  Deceased organ donors, 2003 to 2007, hospitals in Lancashire and England 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  Total 
			 Lancashire(1) 24 27 23 10 15 99 
			 England(2) 598 682 633 647 667 3,227 
			 (1) Lancashire county, excludes Greater Manchester and Merseyside. (2) Includes Lancashire.

Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Hospitals Trust: Out-Patients

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many first outpatient appointments in the Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Hospitals Trust were missed in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The following table shows the combined number of first consultant led out-patient appointments kept and not attended for all specialties at the Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust from 2001-02 to 2006-07.
	Missed appointments are one area in which the public can make a significant impact simply through making responsible use of health services. It is the Department's policy to help them achieve this through the improvement of appointment procedures and ensuring that patients have the opportunity to make an informed choice of where and when they receive their care. The new choose and book system, introduced in 2004, will help to give patients greater certainty and choice over the time and date of their hospital appointment. There is good evidence from the national programme that booking systems, whether electronic or manual, can play a significant role in helping to minimise the number of patients who fail to turn up for their treatment.
	
		
			  Out-patient appointments, consultant-led, all specialties Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 2001-02 to 2006-07 
			   First attendances seen  First attendances  did not attend 
			 2001-02 58,504 4,279 
			 2002-03 62,887 4,636 
			 2003-04 63,483 4,789 
			 2004-05 66,054 5,911 
			 2005-06 68,604 6,194 
			 2006-07 68,554 5,747 
			  Note: The latest published data are for quarter ended September 2007, therefore the latest complete year is 2006-07.  Source: Department of Health form QMOP/QM08/QAR

Polyclinics

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS polyclinics there are in England; and where each is situated.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not collect information about services commissioned locally by primary care trusts (PCTs). However, following the announcement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 10 October to invest new resources into primary care, every PCT in the country will be procuring a new general practitioner led health centre during 2008-09.

Visits Abroad

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on overnight accommodation for Ministers overseas in the last year.

Ben Bradshaw: We do not have a central record of the costs of overnight accommodation for all Ministers overseas in the last year. To collect the information required would incur disproportionate costs.
	Details of the cost of overseas travel for Cabinet Ministers, including the cost of travel and accommodation are contained in the "Overseas Travel by Cabinet Ministers" list. The latest list for the period 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 was published on 25 July 2007. Details for the 2007-08 financial year will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year.
	All travel is made in accordance with the ministerial code.

JUSTICE

Domestic Violence: Children

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he will publish the Practice Direction on guidance on domestic violence and child contact.

Bridget Prentice: Under schedule 2, part 1 (2) of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, the Lord Chief Justice, or a judicial office holder nominated by the Lord Chief Justice with the agreement of the Lord Chancellor, may make or give designated directions. In the case of family proceedings, the nominated judicial office holder is the President of the Family Division. We are working with the President and other agencies in the development of the Practice Direction. As soon as the Direction is finalised, it will be published.

Electronic Government

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the Government's strategy is on e-democracy and e-participation.

Michael Wills: The Government continue to explore and promote the best uses of online technologies in support of public engagement in democratic processes. The strategy for local e-participation is being delivered via the "Connect to your council" take up campaign. The Community Empowerment Action Plan commits the Government to develop on-line tools to support empowerment and democracy and DCLG is working in partnership across Government to establish the best means for delivery locally according to what local areas want and need.
	In the Governance of Britain Green Paper the Government set out a long-term aim to investigate the potential benefits of remote electronic voting and to take advantage of emerging communication technologies to provide increased flexibility and choice in the way people vote. In the immediate term we are reviewing the lessons learnt from previous e-voting pilots. This will help to inform our programme of work for electronic voting.

Electronic Government: Departmental Coordination

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what cross-departmental e-democracy projects his Department has initiated; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: My Department initiated the Digital Dialogues project that works with other Government Departments in exploring the use of online technologies to promote dialogue between Government and the public. The project is in its third stage. Following each stage, an evaluation report is produced that analysed the case studies and provides supporting guidance on how best Government can use these methods. More information is available at http://www.digitaldialogues.org.uk. We are expecting the evaluation of the third stage to be published in the summer.

Electronic Government: Finance

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what e-democracy projects his Department  (a) has funded and  (b) plans to fund; and what the (i) outcome and (ii) cost of each completed project was.

Michael Wills: The Department has funded e-participation projects on Government to citizen engagement, citizen video blogging, online citizen juries, web mapping tools on broken civic infrastructure, representative blogging, use of mass media participation tools and applications for young people to engage in political issues. The Department has also funded five local authorities in piloting e-voting (including remote voting) at their local elections in May 2007. A breakdown of the individual projects and associated costs is detailed in the following table.
	The outcomes from the e-participation projects have included the active engagement of numbers of people in democratic processes, case studies, guidance material, web resources and tools. Each of the e-voting pilots supported successful elections and provided valuable lessons in relation to the use of the technology.
	We will be reviewing the outcomes and lessons learnt from these projects to inform our future plans for e-participation and e-voting.
	
		
			  e-participation projects 
			  £ 
			  Project  Costs 2006-07  Costs 2007-08 
			 Radiowaves 35,030 (inclusive of VAT) 148,750 (inclusive of VAT) 
			 Heads Up 15,000  (plus VAT) n/a 
			 Bristol City Council—vlogging 14,500  (plus VAT) n/a 
			 The Young Foundation—"Fix-My-Street" web mapping tool 10,100  (plus VAT) n/a 
			 South Kesteven District Council—Online Citizen's Jury 10,100  (plus VAT) n/a 
			 UK Citizens Online Democracy—Fax your MP 10,100  (plus VAT) n/a 
			 Gallomanor Communications Ltd.—Councillor 2.0 n/a 14,500 
			 Involve—Teleparticipation n/a 15,000  (plus VAT) 
			 Milo Creative Ltd. "mPower" n/a 15,000  (plus VAT) 
			 MySociety—GroupsNearYou.Com n/a 15,000  (plus VAT) 
			 Digital Dialogues 80,435 54,000 
		
	
	
		
			  e-voting projects at the 2007 local elections in May 2007 
			  Project  Cost (£) 
			 Rushmoor 579,917.50 
			 Sheffield 856,897.63 
			 Shrewsbury 1,096,165 
			 South Bucks 706,192.20 
			 Swindon 1,149,969.22

Electronic Government: Finance

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what funding allocation has been made to e-democracy projects in each of the next three years; and how much of the allocated budget for each year has not been assigned to a specific project.

Michael Wills: Detailed allocations have yet to be made for e-democracy and e-participation projects in the next three years.

Marriage: Islam

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what arrangements are in place for marriages in mosques to be performed in conjunction with the civil marriage law arrangements; what consideration has been given to requiring marriage registrars to attend the mosque to perform the civil marriage arrangements at the time of the religious ceremony; whether consideration has been given to placing mosque marriages on the same basis as church marriages; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: The Marriage Act 1949 provides for mosques to be registered for the solemnisation of marriages according to the rites of the Muslim religion. The marriage should be solemnised in the registered mosque, in the presence of two or more witnesses, and in the presence of either a registrar of the registration district in which the building is registered, or a person who has been authorised to perform such ceremonies in that registered building. Such marriages are recognised in law without the need for a separate civil ceremony. Where a mosque has not been registered, a separate civil ceremony is necessary.
	These same requirements apply to various other religious marriages, including Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Hindu and Sikh. 785 buildings are recorded by the Registrar General (as at 26 February 2008) as certified places of meeting for religious worship by those professing the Muslim religion in England and Wales. Of those, 152 buildings are also registered for marriage, and of the 152, 36 buildings have authorised persons appointed to attend and register marriages.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, dated 18 January (Reference: 187220).

Bridget Prentice: I replied to the hon. Member on 19 February. I apologise for the delay.

Ministerial Duties: Electronic Government

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which Minister has lead responsibility for e-democracy and e-participation.

Michael Wills: I am responsible for e-voting and have the policy responsibility for e-participation at central Government level. Policy for e-democracy and e-participation at the local level is the responsibility of the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG). The lead Minister is Parmjit Dhanda and Baroness Andrews has responsibility for digital inclusion.

Prison Accommodation

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many additional prison places are to be made available in England and Wales in each of the next three years.

Jack Straw: In 2008, 2009 and 2010 approximately 2,600, 1,500 and 2,700 additional places respectively are planned for delivery as part of the Prison Capacity Programme.

Prisoners Release

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the effect of the End of Custody Licence Scheme on prison overcrowding.

David Hanson: The ECL scheme was announced on 19 June 2007 and came into effect on 29 June 2007. Prisoners serving between four weeks and four years are released under temporary licence for the final 18 days of their sentence subject to meeting strict eligibility criteria and providing a release address. All prisoners released on ECL are liable to recall if they are reported to have misbehaved during the period of the licence.

Prisoners Release

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the likely length of operation of the End of Custody Licence Scheme.

David Hanson: The Government will keep the End of Custody Licence Scheme under review in light of changes in the prison population and new capacity coming on stream.

Remand in Custody

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were held in custody in 1978; and what proportion of the population this figure represented.

David Hanson: The average prison population in England and Wales in 1978 was 41,796. This represented 84 per 100,000 of the national population.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

WALES

Departmental Homeworking

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in his Department have been able to work from home in the last 12 months.

Paul Murphy: Six members of Wales Office staff have laptops and related equipment which enables them to work from home. Some use this on an ad hoc basis, while others have a more regular working from home arrangement.
	A further four members of staff have Blackberries, which enable them to keep in touch by e-mail while they are out for the office or travelling.

Drinking Water

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent on bottled water in the latest year for which figures are available.

Paul Murphy: My Department spent £1,682.40 on bottled water, for water coolers, in the financial year 2006-07.
	No other bottled water was purchased.

Press

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the cost of the press offices of  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) its non-departmental public bodies was in each year from 1996-97; what the cost was in each quarter since 1 April 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: Our costs are not readily available in the format requested, and obtaining these could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.
	The Wales Office does not have any agencies or non-departmental public bodies.

Press

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many press office staff were employed by  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) its non-departmental public bodies (i) in each year since 1996-97 and (ii) at the latest date for which information is available.

Paul Murphy: The Wales Office was established in 1999. Since then, it has employed three press officers in each year.
	The Wales Office does not have any agencies or non-departmental public bodies.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she intends to commence the provisions of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: The Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 (the Act) received Royal Assent in May 2002. Most of the provisions have now been introduced through a series of commencement orders.
	The first phase of leasehold reforms came into effect on 26 July 2002, with the second phase coming into effect in two parts on 30 September and 31 October 2003. These measures included: a relaxation of the qualifying rules to make it easier to buy the freehold or a new lease; a new no fault 'Right to Manage' provisions for leaseholders of flats to take over management of their block where they do not wish to or cannot afford to buy the freehold; and new procedures for consultation on service charges.
	A further commencement order brought into effect the provisions in Part 1 of the Act relating to Commonhold, on 27 September 2004. Commonhold is a new form of tenure for blocks of flats and other multi-unit properties, under which occupiers would own their units outright, and through a commonhold association own and mange the common parts collectively.
	Another phase of the leasehold reforms was brought into effect on 28 February 2005. This provides leaseholders with better protection against forfeiture, and requires landlords to send a written demand for ground rent before it become payable. Leaseholders of houses can also now choose their own buildings insurance.
	The most recent phase of leasehold reforms was brought into effect on 1 October 2007. These introduced a requirement for landlords to send a summary of a tenant's rights and obligations including information set out in Regulations, when demanding service charges. A requirement was also imposed upon landlords sending demands for administration charges to serve a notice containing prescribed information about tenants' rights and obligations in relation to such charges.
	The remaining provisions of the Act deal with accounting for service charge monies and provide for collective enfranchisement to be exercised through an RTE company. The accounting provisions require landlords to keep service charge monies for each group of service charge payers in separate (designated) accounts; and require landlords to provide a regular statement of account together with other relevant information.
	A consultation paper dealing with the accounting provisions was published in July 2007, with a summary of the responses received published in January this year. The summary of responses set out our intentions to proceed with proposals to amend the provisions of the 2002 Act in order to ensure leaseholders are provided with appropriate information and protections without incurring a disproportionate cost. Work is ongoing on the detail of the provisions and amendments to the legislation will be made at the earliest opportunity.
	In relation to the RTE company provisions, there are a number of legal and practical difficulties which still need to be resolved and work is continuing in order to determine a way forward. Therefore no timetable has yet been set to bring these provisions into force.
	The Welsh Assembly has devolved responsibility for secondary legislation in respect of leasehold provisions in Wales.

Community Relations: Housing

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when her Department plans to issue revised guidance to local authorities about the strategic housing role and the preparation of housing strategies mentioned in the Government's Response to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: As indicated in our response to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion, we aim to publish the revised guidance in late spring.

Community Relations: Housing

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the Equality and Human Rights Commission and Local Government Association plan to publish the results of their review of social housing allocation, as mentioned in the Government's response to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion.

Iain Wright: This is a matter for the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the Local Government Association.

Community Relations: Rented Housing

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when her Department plans to publish the results of the policy review of the private rented sector mentioned in the Government's Response to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: It is anticipated that the review of the private rented sector undertaken by Julie Rugg and David Rhodes of the Centre for Housing Policy, University of York, will be published in October 2008.

Council Tax: Pensioners

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effect of above-inflation council tax rises since 1997 on the income of pensioners in those areas with such rises.

John Healey: Keeping council tax under control is in the interests of all taxpayers and remains a priority for the Government. We will not hesitate to use our capping powers as necessary to protect taxpayers from excessive increases.
	As Sir Michael Lyons recognised in his report on local government last year, council tax benefit is the key to tackling the perceived unfairness of council tax towards all those on low incomes. The Government are working hard to improve take up and have done a great deal to improve pensioner incomes, spending around £11 billion more on pensioners in 2007-08 than if 1997 policies had continued.

Council Tax: Post Offices

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions she has had with local authorities on the premium charged to people who pay their council tax through post offices; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: I have regular discussions with local authorities on a wide range of issues. The collection of council tax is a matter for individual local authorities which may, if they choose, make arrangements to allow residents in their area to pay their council tax bills over the post office counter.

Domestic Wastes: Waste Disposal

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether domestic properties with a Class U council tax exemption will be liable to pay the new charges for the collection of household rubbish.

Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply.
	Domestic properties with a class U council tax exemption are those occupied only by people who are severely mentally impaired who would otherwise be liable to pay council tax.
	The exact details of how a scheme might operate would be up to the local authorities running pilots to decide. However, the Government have stressed in their overarching framework that pilot authorities must take account of the needs of potentially disadvantaged groups in devising and running such a scheme. We would expect this group to fall under the definition of a potentially disadvantaged group. Therefore, it may well be that authorities decide to exempt it from the scheme, on the basis that people belonging to it cannot be expected to separate their waste for recycling.
	DEFRA intends to provide further details in guidance for local authorities on how to take account of disadvantaged groups.

Drugs: Waste Disposal

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what advice she gives to  (a) councils and  (b) householders in respect of householders wishing to dispose of unwanted pharmaceuticals.

Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply.
	Waste drugs and other pharmaceutical products are defined as clinical waste under the Controlled Waste Regulations 1992.
	DEFRA's website includes advice specifically for householders wanting to dispose of unwanted pharmaceuticals. Normally only small quantities will be unwanted and we advise that they should be returned to the pharmacy for disposal. However, this may not be practicable where householders need to dispose of larger quantities. Where it is not possible to return pharmaceuticals to the pharmacy, we advise householders to ask their local authority (LA) to collect them. LAs are obliged to collect clinical waste from householders on request, but may make a charge for doing so.
	Where LAs are asked to collect pharmaceuticals from householders, they can draw on comprehensive guidance produced by the Department of Health on health care waste for all those involved in its management. The guidance, entitled "Health Technical Memorandum 07-01: Safe management of healthcare waste", was published by the Department of Health in 2006 and includes advice on the management of waste pharmaceuticals, including appropriate waste receptacles and disposal routes.

Eco-Towns

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the minimum criteria are for connection from eco-towns to nearby settlements.

Caroline Flint: In the eco-towns prospectus we said that eco-towns must be freestanding settlements, separate and distinct from existing towns and cities, but well linked to them by high quality public transport.

Eco-Towns

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what facilities and amenities will have to be included in an eco-town.

Caroline Flint: As set out in the eco-towns Prospectus we have said that eco-towns should provide for a good range of facilities within the town—a secondary school, a medium scale retail centre, good quality business space and leisure facilities. However, they are not expected to be entirely self-sufficient, and will be closely linked to larger towns and cities that provide for a wider range of needs.

Eco-Towns

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps will be taken to ensure that eco-towns are designed to conserve water and other natural resources.

Caroline Flint: One of the seven key criteria we set out in the eco-towns prospectus covered environmental issues and this includes ensuring that the development incorporates high standards of water efficiency, particularly in areas of the country defined as severely water stressed, and incorporates environmentally sustainable approaches. We have also asked the Town and Country Planning Association to produce worksheets on the practical application of the criteria and this includes the water cycle and green infrastructure.

Eco-Towns

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether eco-towns will be subject to an independent landscape appraisal.

Caroline Flint: As set out in the eco-towns prospectus we have said that there must be a commitment to high standards of environmental sustainability; this will include taking into consideration how the eco-town will affect the existing landscape. All shortlisted eco-towns will be subject to sustainability appraisal and landscape appraisal will be one of the many issues against which eco-towns will be considered.

Eco-Towns

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how eco-towns will be required to demonstrate that the proposed settlement is the most sustainable option for housing and growth.

Caroline Flint: I will shortly announce a consultation paper on eco-towns which will include a shortlist of areas that have been put forward as potential eco-towns. An appraisal of sustainability is being undertaken, of which one of the tests will be to appraise the sustainability of eco-towns.
	Furthermore, at the local level, where schemes are considered as part of the local planning process, sustainability appraisal will be undertaken of the strategy as well as of options for delivering the eco-town; this will include the consideration of alternatives. The local planning authority must clearly show how it has taken the requirements of sustainability appraisal into account in developing its policy.
	Finally, all eco-towns will be the subject of a planning application. It is likely that the principal planning application for an eco-town would need to be accompanied by an environmental impact assessment which would need to include an outline of the main alternatives considered.

Eco-Towns

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether eco-towns will be required to conform to criteria laid down in the regional spatial strategy and local development framework.

Caroline Flint: Legislation requires that local planning authorities must determine planning applications in accordance with the statutory development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Where there are other material considerations, the development plan should be the starting point, and other material considerations should be taken into account in reaching a decision. One such consideration will be whether the plan policies are relevant and up to date.
	Material considerations must be genuine planning considerations, i.e. they must be related to the development and use of land in the public interest and would include published planning policy statements such as those on housing and climate change together with any approved policy statement on eco-towns.
	The development plan includes the regional spatial strategy (RSS) together with any development plan documents (DPDs) which the local authority has adopted and any "saved policies" still in effect.

Eco-Towns: Architecture

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what standards of architectural design eco-towns will have to demonstrate.

Caroline Flint: As set out in the eco-towns prospectus we have said that there must be a commitment to a high standard of design throughout the development, across all housing tenures and buildings. This includes commercial and community buildings, and extends to the quality of the streets, public realm, parks and open spaces, and should be consistent with planning policy.
	We are also working with CABE, RIBA and the Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment to stimulate new architectural thinking for eco-town schemes and these organisations will be running a design competition involving the leading British and international architects and urban and landscape designers to set the standards for the 10 new eco-towns.

Eco-Towns: Carbon Emissions

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether eco-towns will be required to be carbon neutral.

Caroline Flint: As set out in the eco-towns prospectus, we have said that the whole eco-town development should reach zero carbon standards-not just homes, but schools, shops, offices and community facilities.

Eco-Towns: Public Participation

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what process of public consultation will be undertaken when determining whether to establish eco-towns.

Caroline Flint: I will shortly announce a consultation paper on eco-towns which will include a shortlist of areas that have been put forward as potential eco-towns. The consultation paper and the potential eco-town sites will be the subject of extensive public consultation. Sustainability appraisal will also be carried out and a further consultation will be undertaken on the environmental report as part of this.
	Furthermore, when schemes are considered at the local level, as part of the local planning process, the community will be engaged on the strategy as well as any options for delivering the eco-town. The local planning authority must clearly show how it has taken the community's comments into account in developing its policy.
	Finally, all eco-towns will be the subject of a planning application and subject to statutory forms of consultation; representations are then taken into account in the determination of the application.

Eco-Towns: Standards

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what criteria will be used to determine whether eco-towns represent the most efficient use of land.

Caroline Flint: I will shortly announce a consultation paper on eco-towns which will include a shortlist of areas that have been put forward as potential eco-towns.
	Planning Policy Statements (PPSs) such as PPS 1 on the delivery of sustainable development and PPS 3 on housing, require local planning authorities to consider how all development makes the most efficient use of land. An appraisal of sustainability will be undertaken, of which one of the tests will be to appraise the use of land contained in the bids which have been and are being considered.
	At the local level, additional sustainability appraisal will be undertaken where proposals are brought through the local planning system. It is also likely that the principal planning application for an eco-town would need to be accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment which would need to include an outline of the main alternatives considered.

Empty Property

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether public requests ordering disposal may be made against property which is  (a) Crown Land and  (b) owned by Regional Development Agencies.

John Healey: Part 10 of the Local Government Planning and Land Act 1980 makes provision for the disposal of public land, including the specific public request to order disposal (PROD) power. Schedule 16 of the Act lists the specific bodies to whom part 10 of the Act applies.
	The bodies listed in the question are not listed in schedule 16 of the Act and therefore public requests to order disposal cannot be applied to any land owned by these bodies.

Empty Property: Surrey

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many empty homes there are in  (a) Oxted, Surrey and  (b) Caterham, Surrey.

Iain Wright: holding answer 21 February 2008
	 The numbers of vacant dwellings by ward, indicated by council tax data provided by Tandridge district council, are tabulated as follows. The figures presented are for all vacancies at 31 March 2005, including those that have been empty for less than six months. This is the most recent information for ward level vacancies in Tandridge.
	
		
			  Total vacancies in Tandridge district council by ward  at 31 March 2005 
			  Ward name  All vacant dwellings (excluding second homes) 
			 Bletchingley and Nutfield 76 
			 Burstow, Horne and Outwood 50 
			 Chaldon 10 
			 Dormansland and Felcourt 34 
			 Felbridge 18 
			 Godstone 51 
			 Harestone 56 
			 Limpsfield 44 
			 Lingfield and Crowhurst 38 
			 Oxted North and Tandridge 71 
			 Oxted South 55 
			 Portley 33 
			 Queens Park 37 
			 Tatsfield and Titsey 15 
			 Valley 73 
			 Warlingham East and Chelsham and Farleigh 46 
			 Warlingham West 33 
			 Westway 29 
			 Whyteleafe 43 
			 Woldingham 24

Floods: Finance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the impact of the cost of the clean up of the floods of summer 2007 on local authority budgets.

John Healey: It is for individual local authorities to assess the impact of the cost of the clean up of the summer 2007 floods on their budgets, as the extent of that impact will depend on a range of factors specific to each authority. These factors include how they have dealt with the need to maintain adequate insurance cover, what level of reserves they maintain, and what sources of funding are available to them to cover the costs.
	Central Government have made available a comprehensive funding package of up to £78 million to date to assist the affected regions in the aftermath of the floods. We took the decision to focus much of this resource on local authorities in the greatest need, including by making available up to £20 million in flood recovery grant, £14 million to help cover the costs of damage to schools and children's services, and over £16 million for repairs to the local highway with more to come as claims are assessed.
	As part of this Government funding package, local authorities have also been able to claim under the Bellwin scheme for all eligible costs incurred on or in connection with the taking of immediate action to safeguard life and property or to prevent suffering or severe inconvenience.

Health and Safety Executive

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2008,  Official Report, column 788W, on the Health and Safety Executive, what estimate her Department has made of the number of homes in the country with water heaters of the kind involved in the death of Rhianna Hardie.

Iain Wright: There are no official statistics on the number of different types of hot water systems in homes. The Health and Safety Executive's advice in their 2007 safety alert is that the risk is greatest for homes where cold water cisterns are located above bedrooms. This is most likely in houses built between 1945 and 1975 and where these homes have or used to have a back boiler.

Health Hazards: Boilers

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what action the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister took in 2002 following representations from the Health and Safety Executive on the threat of scalding water leaks from water tanks, following an incident in Penzance.

Iain Wright: Following a request from ODPM officials, information was provided to us by the HSE on the circumstances leading up to the accident. This information was taken into account in our work with relevant trade and industry bodies to develop minimum standards of competence for the Building Regulations Competent Persons Schemes and in our preparations for a planned review of part G of the Building Regulations to fully consider all aspects of hot water safety.
	Neither the Department nor the HSE initiated a publicity campaign in light of the house assessment that this was a tragic accident arising from a rare set of circumstances.

Housing Renewal Areas: Private Sector

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 36W, on housing renewal areas: Private sector, if she will place in the Library the names of those individuals who have been asked to undertake the review of buy to let accommodation and student accommodation in the private rented sector; what the terms of reference of the review are; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: An independent policy review of the whole of the private rented sector was commissioned in January. The review is being undertaken by Julie Rugg and David Rhodes of the Centre for Housing Policy at the University of York and is due to report by the end of October 2008. The aim of the review is to improve our policy understanding of the private rented sector, looking at the barriers that exist towards ensuring it consistently offers a fit for purpose product, the role it has into the future and the actions that could be taken to influence and support that role. The press release announcing the review and the terms of reference have been deposited in the Library of the House.

Housing: Tenant Mobility

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 18 September 2006,  Official Report, columns 133-4WS, on Housing Employment Mobility Services, whether her Department recouped the £1.06 million and associated costs following the termination of its contract with Scout Solutions Projects Limited to deliver mobility services for social tenants in the UK.

Iain Wright: Communities and Local Government is bound by the Lord Chancellor's pledge on the "Settlement of Government Disputes Through Alternative Dispute Resolution" where this is appropriate and is obliged if possible to seek a negotiated settlement of dispute. Following the written ministerial statement of 18 September 2006,  Official Report, columns 133-4WS the Department entered negotiations with a view to settlement of the dispute with the former moveUK contractor.
	A confidential settlement was achieved on 7 June 2007 with an exchange of rights and assets. The settlement negotiated by the Treasury Solicitor's Department and the Legal Directorate at Communities and Local Government was approved by HM Treasury and Counsel as an appropriate settlement representing value for money to the public purse having regard to: the chances of success; professional costs and other fees and expenses likely to be incurred; irrecoverable costs; the duration of proceedings and further delays to the delivery of public services.

Housing: Low Incomes

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department has taken to ensure that social housing providers take account of the importance of companion animals to tenants.

Iain Wright: Most housing providers have a companion animal (pet) policy. However it is for individual landlords to decide if they wish to have one, and if so how to communicate that policy to their tenants.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answers of 31 January 2008,  Official Report, column 583W, and 1 February 2008,  Official Report, column 691W, on housing: local incomes, whether any deposit of the householder is applied to reducing  (a) Part 1,  (b) Part 2 or  (c) Part 3 of the amount given to the household.

Iain Wright: Under current arrangements any deposit would be applied to part 3.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answers of 31 January 2008,  Official Report, column 583W, and 1 February 2008,  Official Report, column 691W, on housing: local incomes, what negative equity liability the householder has on the  (a) Part 2 and  (b) Part 3 of the loan if housing prices fall by more than (i) 15 per cent. or (ii) 17.5 per cent. of the original purchase price over the course of the loan.

Iain Wright: If the value of the property were to fall the householder would be liable for any negative equity on part 1 and 2 of the loan. This is a common allocation of risk in the mortgage market.

Housing: Prices

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities had 15 the percentile house prices that were 70 per cent. of the national level.

Iain Wright: Based on HM Land Registry house price data for April to June 2007, there were 20 local authorities that had 15th percentile house prices that were less than 70 per cent. of the national level.
	The 20 local authorities with 15th percentile house prices that were less than 70 per cent. of the national level during April to June 2007 are:
	Barrow-In-Furness
	Blackburn with Darwen
	Bolsover
	Burnley
	Copeland
	Derwentside
	Easington
	Hartlepool
	Hyndburn
	Kingston upon Hull
	Lincolnshire
	Liverpool
	Mansfield
	Middlesbrough
	North East
	Pendle
	Sedgefleld
	Stoke-on-Trent
	Teesdale
	Wansbeck
	Wear Valley.

Housing: Standards

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of homes that meet the decent homes standard but do not meet the thermal comfort standard.

Iain Wright: In order to meet the decent homes standard a home must provide a reasonable degree of thermal comfort as defined in "A Decent Home: definition and guidance for implementation" available at:
	www.communities.gsi.gov.uk.

Local Authorities: Standards

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities she expects to include Best Value Performance Indicators  (a) No. 1,  (b) No. 2 and  (c) No. 3 as one of their priority targets in their 2008 local area agreements.

John Healey: Best value performance indicators are being abolished with effect from 1 April 2008 and will be replaced with a single set of 198 national indicators, which was announced by the Secretary of State in October 2007. The national indicator set includes:
	NI 1: Percentage of people who believe people from different backgrounds get on well together in their local area,
	NI 2: Percentage of people who feel that they belong to their neighbourhood, and
	NI 3: Civic participation in the local area.
	Local authorities are currently negotiating with their local partnerships and Government offices to agree which of the 198 indicators in the national indicator set will be included in their LAA. The negotiations will not conclude until June 2008.

Local Government

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what  (a) estimate her Department has made of and  (b) research her Department has conducted into the cost of (i) local authority reporting to central Government and (ii) local government inspection by external inspectors and auditors.

John Healey: A PricewaterhouseCoopers report "Mapping the Performance Landscape", commissioned by this Department and published in July 2006, estimated that the costs of reporting performance information to central Government was of the order of £2.6 million. This estimate is based on a study of four local authorities. The Department for Communities and Local Government will begin research during the 2008-09 financial year to consider the savings due to the introduction of the new performance framework.
	The Department is responsible for sponsorship of the Audit Commission. The Audit Commission is the only inspectorate of local government to charge a fee element to authorities for inspection. The total inspection fee income in 2006-07 published by the Commission was around £11 million. The Department also pays grant to the Commission to underwrite the cost of its inspection activity. In 2006-07, this grant totalled almost £26 million. The Department does not hold information about the costs of inspection of local authorities by other local inspectorates.

Local Government Finance Funding Changes Independent Inquiry: Finance

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the budget for the Lyons Inquiry was.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Maidenhead on 17 April 2007,  Official Report, (column 627W).

Local Government Finance: Disadvantaged

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for which funding streams the index of multiple deprivation, or elements of it, is used as a mechanism in whole or in part to allocate central funding to local areas.

John Healey: The Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) has been used by Communities and Local Government to determine eligibility for the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund which was in operation between 2001 and 2008. The Department has also recently used the IMD as the basis for two of the three criteria used to determine eligibility for the Working Neighbourhoods Fund.
	I am also aware that the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) has used the IMD or elements of it to allocate funding for a number of its programmes; and that the Department of Health has used the IMD either as an element or to allocate funding to primary care trusts (PCTs) on the basis of the relative needs of their populations.

Local Government Finance: Empty Property

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the re-use of empty domestic dwellings will be incentivised in the allocation mechanisms of housing and delivery grant.

Iain Wright: The Government published draft allocation criteria for the Housing and Planning Delivery Grant for consultation in October 2007, which closed on 17 January. We will set out final allocation criteria in due course taking account of the views expressed in the consultation.

Markets: Planning

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment has been made of the extent to which local authorities have used Planning Policy Statement 6: Planning for Town Centres to support and develop the role of street markets in their own town centres; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: The Government's planning policy for town centres, Planning Policy Statement 6 (PPS6), recognises that street and covered markets (including farmers' markets) can make a valuable contribution to local choice and diversity in shopping, the vitality of town centres and to rural economies.
	PPS6 asks local authorities to seek to retain and enhance their existing markets and, where appropriate, re-introduce or create new ones. They are also asked to ensure that existing markets remain attractive and competitive by investing in their improvement. It is for local authorities to decide on the level of support they give to street markets in their town centres, as appropriate to their particular area.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was spent by Lancashire County Council to empty gullies on principal roads in 2006-07.

John Healey: Highway maintenance is one of the services supported via formula grant. Formula grant, which comprises revenue support grant, redistributed business rates and principal formula police grant, where appropriate, is an unhypothecated block grant i.e. councils are free to spend the money on any service provided they meet their statutory obligations. For this reason, and due to the method of calculating formula grant, particularly floor damping, it is not possible to say how much grant has been provided for any particular service.
	In addition, Lancashire received £14.332 million of capital funding for highway maintenance in 2006-07. This funding is not ring-fenced and authorities have discretion to spend it in line with their priorities.

Taxation: Burglar Alarms

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether account is taken of security systems and burglar alarm systems by the Valuation Office Agency when revaluing a property for  (a) non-domestic rates and  (b) council tax.

John Healey: Security and alarm systems are taken into account when assessing a property for non-domestic rates.
	Similarly, such systems should be taken into account when reviewing a banding for council tax although, in practice, the effect on value is extremely unlikely to result in a home being placed in a different band.

Thames Gateway

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 589-91W, on the Thames Gateway to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar if she will list the central Government departments that are involved in the Thames Gateway.

Caroline Flint: The following Government Departments are involved in the Thames Gateway:
	Communities and Local Government
	Department of Health
	Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
	UK Trade and Investment
	Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
	HM Treasury
	Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs
	Department for Children, Schools and Families
	Department for Work and Pensions
	Department for Transport
	Department for Culture Media and Sport
	Home Office
	Cabinet Office
	Ministry of Defence
	Ministry of Justice

Working Neighbourhoods Fund

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 31 January 2008,  Official Report, column 592W, on the Working Neighbourhoods Fund, which local authorities which were in receipt of Deprived Areas Fund, but which did not receive Neighbourhood Renewal Funding, will not receive Working Neighbourhood Funding following the end of any transitional relief.

John Healey: The authorities listed were in receipt of Deprived Area Fund but did not receive Neighbourhood Renewal Funding and will not receive an allocation of funding from WNF following the end of transitional relief.
	Luton
	Kensington and Chelsea
	East Lindsey
	Redbridge
	Wandsworth
	West Lancashire
	Calderdale
	Waveney
	Southend-on-Sea
	Tendring
	Allerdale
	Torbay
	North Somerset
	Gloucester
	Ashford
	Portsmouth
	Bassetlaw
	Lancaster
	Scarborough
	East Riding of Yorkshire
	Ellesmere Port and Neston
	Darlington
	King's Lynn and West Norfolk
	Peterborough
	Merton
	Bexley
	Bedford
	Warrington
	Chester-le-Street
	Bournemouth
	Weymouth and Portland
	Charnwood
	East Staffordshire
	North Devon
	West Lindsey
	Chester
	Corby
	Wyre
	Carlisle
	Swindon
	Newark and Sherwood
	Crewe and Nantwich
	Boston
	Shepway
	Dover
	High Peak
	Milton Keynes
	Isle of Wight
	City of London
	Maidstone.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Plastics: Recycling

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what records his Department holds on  (a) which local authorities collect mixed plastic for recycling and  (b) what recycling method is used after collection from residents in each case.

Joan Ruddock: "Mixed plastics" is a term used within the recycling sector to refer to plastic packaging other than plastic bottles.
	DEFRA does not hold records on which local authorities collect mixed plastics for recycling or what method of recycling is used after collection.
	Local authorities report the tonnages they collect for recycling, which includes plastics, to WasteDataFlow. However, it is not possible to differentiate mixed plastics from other types of plastic collections in this data source.
	The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is undertaking trials with a number of technologies aimed at understanding the best ways to handle mixed plastics from an environmental, economical and technological perspective. The programme is investigating three main areas: collection, reprocessing, and end markets. Different recycling and recovery options are being considered as part of this work.
	WRAP and Recoup conduct an annual survey of local authorities which gathers data on waste plastics collections. The 2008 survey will be undertaken shortly, and will include specific questions on mixed plastics. When the data from this survey has been analysed, it should provide more information on those local authorities collecting mixed plastics.

Waste Management: Standards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to publish the individual results for each of the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste partners for 2005-06 and 2006-07.

Joan Ruddock: We expect the 2005-06 results from individual delivery bodies delivering the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) programme to be published in March. We plan to publish aggregated results for 2006-07 around the same time, followed by individual delivery body results by late summer. I will arrange for copies of both sets of results to be placed in the House Library when they are available.

Waste Management: Standards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the criteria for funding agreements are with each of the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste partners for 2007-08.

Joan Ruddock: In developing the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste Programme (BREW), DEFRA has sought the views of various business and environment stakeholders including the Confederation of British Industry, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Green Alliance. With regard to planning for the year 2007-08 of the programme, these and other organisations were invited to a stakeholder event (held in May 2006) followed by a consultation on specific proposals for activity (from October to November 2006). These various dialogues helped inform the overall coverage of the programme.
	In addition, DEFRA and HM Treasury have established programme criteria, which must be met before funds can be granted for activities. BREW funding:
	(i) can only be spent in England (except under the circumstances outlined below);
	(ii) can only be used to support measures related to business; it cannot be used to support local authorities, or organisations whose waste is treated as 'household waste' (e.g. schools), except under the circumstances outlined in the following paragraph;
	(iii) must provide additional value (against a 2004/5 baseline) and not displace other sources of funding in order to meet the above conditions; and
	(iv) should provide a potential benefit to those sectors paying landfill tax and where possible address those sectors most affected by landfill tax increases.
	Exceptions to the conditions described above are that:
	(a) BREW funding may be used to fund a programme that is located outside England or would also have benefits outside England, providing that the target of the programme is England and primary benefits are to business in England; and it would be impractical to run the programme without such external benefits occurring;
	(b) BREW funding can be used to involve local authorities in a programme where such involvement provides significant benefits to business rather than the local authority.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Administration of Justice

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2008,  Official Report, column 364W, on armed forces: inquests, how much was spent on legal representation and advice on each coroner's case heard in which legal proceedings are complete in each year.

Bob Ainsworth: The amount spent on each coroner's case heard in England and Wales for each year in which the inquest has completed is as follows:
	
		
			   Name  Date of inquest  Costs (£) 
			 2003 CplM Phillips and Rifleman I Coman March 2003 5201.72 
			 
			 2004 Sapper L M Passmore July 2004 18,218.01 
			  Cpl J M Pears 8 November 204 15,624.67 
			  Cpl T Rees August 2004 7313.01 
			  Pte D J Shipley August 2004 16,814.67 
			  LBdr S A Walmsley 2 November 2004 11,288.96 
			 
			 2005 MEM G J Benton 9 February 2005 22,695.19 
			  Lt J Christie 22 May 2005 24,834.41 
			  Lt Col Van der Horst 8 November 2005 27,893.33 
			  LBdr R Wilson 13 December 2005 8054.31 
			  Cdre D White 29 September 2005 3112.32 
			 
			 2006 Gdsmn A J Wakefield 11 December 2006 10,791.65 
			  RMP case: March 2006 81,607.48 
			  Sgt Hamilton- Jewell — — 
			  Cpl Aston — — 
			  Cpl Long — — 
			  Cpl Miller — — 
			  LCpl Hyde — — 
			  LCpl Keys — — 
			  Pte J Collinson 20 February 2006 180,008.25 
			  LCpl A J Craw 8 January 2006 23,050.61 
			  Fus S Henderson 27 November 2006 24,033.87 
			  Capt Holmes and Pte Ellis 27 November 2006 5840.26 
			  Marine C Maddison 20 November 2006 39,063.23 
			  Fit Lt Main and Fit Lt Williams 30 October 2006 963.74 
			  Sig D W Didsbury 15 January 2006 10,220.23 
			  Sgt S Roberts 11 December 2006 44,041.58 
			  Pte J G Smith 6 November 2006 14,126.57 
			  Fus S Manning S and Fus D 15 November 2006 14,701.63 
			  Meade   
			 2007 Cpl G Pritchard 10 September 2007 3122.40 
			  LCpl Brackenbury 14 September 2007 2987.89 
			  LCpl Hetherington 25 September 2007 1858.78 
			  Pte Wysoczan 25 July 2007 5700.62 
			  Sgt W J D McLellan 25 January 2007 357.80 
			  Lt McCaulay 12 March 2007 39,833.92 
			  Fus G Gentle 29 October 2007 132,625.21 
			  Cpl S Albutt 5 February 2007 70,260.03 
			  2nd Lt Shearer, Pte Spicer and Pte Hewett 30 January 2007 28,400.70 
			 
			  LCoH M Hull 12 March 2007 102,097.37 
			  Cpl Thorpe and LCpl Hashmi 11 October 2007 1686.31 
			  Lynx crash: 21 June 2007 24,124.14 
			  Wg Cdr Coxen — — 
			  Fit Lt Mulvihill — — 
			  Capt Dobson — — 
			  Marine Collins — — 
			  Lt Cdr Chapman — — 
			  Pte Morris and Pte Lewaicei 28 February 2007 10,006.08 
			  Major Ward 16 April 2007 32,474.39 
			  Cpl Cosby 15 October 2007 65,410.59 
			  LCpl Nicholls, 2nd Lt Johnson and Capt Eida 17 September 2007 1977.86 
			  LCpl L McCulloch 28 November 2007 1357.61 
			  Note: In some cases where inquests have completed, there may be future small residual charges made to close files. 
		
	
	The cases listed are those where the inquest has completed and are recorded in the year when this took place but the expenditure may have been spread over a number of previous years.
	The increase in the number of cases in 2006 and 2007 reflects the increased volume of inquests held in Oxfordshire following the provision of additional resources to clear the backlog of inquests into operational deaths overseas.

Armed Forces: Housing

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's plans are for accommodation disposal in each of the next three years; and how much he expects to be generated by each disposal, with reference to the answer of 16 October 2007,  Official Report, columns 936-7W, on Armed Forces Housing.

Derek Twigg: The majority of Service Families Accommodation (SFA) in England and Wales is leased from Annington Homes Ltd and properties no longer required for defence purposes are returned to the company. Although no receipt accrues to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) in respect of properties returned, there are savings in rent, contributions in lieu of council tax and maintenance. The following number of SFA properties are due to be returned to AHL in this and the next three financial years:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2007-08 273 
			 2008-09 403 
			 2009-10 102 
			 2010-11 1 
		
	
	Although receipts from the sale of AHL properties is a matter for AHL, the MOD has received some £48 million under its in gain-share agreement with AHL from the sale of properties by the company over the last three years. It should be noted that sales do not necessarily relate to the year the properties are released to AHL.
	In Scotland and Northern Ireland, surplus SFA are sold on the open market. We currently have plans to dispose of 600 properties in Scotland and 800 in Northern Ireland over the next three years.
	Receipts from house sales will depend on market conditions at the time of sale, the area and the type of property. To release any valuations we may have carried out ahead of the sale, would, in any case, be likely to influence the market and these are thus regarded as commercially confidential until the sale is complete.
	Overseas, the majority of SFA are returned to the host government when no longer needed, but SFA on permanent joint operations bases are owned by the MOD. When they are no longer required, the future of these properties is determined by the MOD.
	In respect of single living (barrack) accommodation (SLA), this is usually within the wire of a service establishment and the disposal normally forms part of the disposal of the wider site. Receipts cannot, therefore, be estimated specifically for SLA.

Armed Forces: Training

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will bring forward proposals to ensure that Ministry of Defence training is not provided to overseas military pilots from regimes associated with  (a) repression of minorities and  (b) ethnic cleansing.

Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence provides training to other countries in accordance with defence policy and wider HMG policy objectives. The countries to which we provide training are under continuous review, and the record of a regime is one of many factors that are taken into account when deciding whether to provide pilot training. Proposals to change policy towards pilot training are brought forward, as necessary, as circumstances change.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 87W, on armoured fighting vehicles, how the internal space requirement for the Panther vehicle compares with the Cheetah vehicle; and what the minimum space requirement is.

Bob Ainsworth: For Panther the original Iveco vehicle has five seats, which is reduced to either four or three, depending on the specific Bowman radio installation. In the event of Panther being deployed on operations, there would be a requirement to fit a suite of force protection measures. These can be accommodated in a 'pod' at the back of the vehicle, rather than in the main crew compartment.
	Cheetah has six seats, which would reduce to either five or four, depending on the specific Bowman installation. Cheetah lacks the additional equipment stowage area at the back of the vehicle which means that additional force protection equipment would have to be accommodated inside the crew compartment, potentially reducing the available crew space further.
	Regarding the minimum space requirements for the protected patrol vehicle programme, for which the Cheetah vehicle was previously considered, I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or could be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Arms Control

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will meet representatives of Soroptimist International to discuss disarmament matters.

Bob Ainsworth: Ministers and officials regularly meet with a wide range of Non-Governmental Organisations to discuss disarmament issues. Any request by Soroptimist International would be considered in the usual way.

BOWMAN combat radio system

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Bowman radio system provides  (a) secure voice communications and  (b) interface with other key battlefield communications at tactical level.

Bob Ainsworth: The Bowman radio system provides secure voice communications.
	Improvements to Bowman connectivity are being addressed as part of the capability uplift which is already underway.

British Overseas Territories: Armed Forces

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many military units raised in the Overseas Territories have served alongside or been embedded in UK units in  (a) Iraq,  (b) Afghanistan and  (c) other theatres in the last two years; and if he will state in each case the (i) numbers, (ii) ranks and (iii) role and function of such units;
	(2)  how many military units raised in the Overseas Territories have served alongside or been embedded in  (a) UN forces,  (b) EU forces and  (c) forces of other international organisations involved in military deployments in the last two years; and if he will state in each case the (i) numbers, (ii) ranks and (iii) role and function of such units.

Bob Ainsworth: No military units raised in the Overseas Territories have served alongside or been embedded with either UK forces, UN forces, EU forces or forces of other international organisations on operations over the past two years; although a number of individual volunteers from the Royal Gibraltar Regiment are regularly attached to UK units serving on operations, and a total of 32 individuals up to the rank of Major have deployed in various roles to Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans in the last two years.

Capita

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was paid by his Department to Capita Group plc and its subsidiaries in each financial year  (a) from 2000 to 2003 and  (b) since 2005-06; which contracts were awarded by his Department to Capita Group plc in each year since 2000-01 to the most recent available date; what the cost was of each contract; what penalties for default were imposed in contract provisions; what the length was of each contract; whether the contract was advertised; how many companies applied for the contract; how many were short-listed; what criteria were used for choosing a company; what provision was made for renewal without re-tender in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The information held centrally in the name of the Capita Group plc is provided in the following table. Information on contracts with subsidiary companies could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Excluded are any contracts placed on behalf of other Government Departments, joint venture/alliance contracts, contracts placed through collaborative projects such as the Typhoon/Euro fighter and those awarded by the MOD's Trading Funds.
	
		
			  Financial year  Contract payments (£000) 
			 2000-01 219 
			 2001-02 14 
			 2002-03 0 
			 2003-04 0 
			 2004-05 0 
			 2005-06 0 
			 2006-07 19 
		
	
	One contract, currently worth approximately £21,000 has been awarded to the Capita Group since 2000-01. This is a five-year contract for the supply and support of management information software for service children's education. This contract was not awarded competitively as the source code for the software meeting the defence requirement is proprietary to the Capita Group. No provision was made for penalties, although a standard clause on default provides a remedy for any failure of the contractor to deliver or perform on time. No provision was made for contract renewal without competition. The expenditure in 2000-01 and 2000-02 represents residual payments made against a contract awarded before 2000.

Commonwealth: Armed Forces

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide a breakdown by rank and nationality of all Commonwealth soldiers serving in the Army.

Bob Ainsworth: The strength of the Commonwealth component of the Army broken down by paid rank and nationality is provided in the tables.
	
		
			  Trained Regular Army Officers by Paid Rank and Nationality as at 1 January 2008 
			   Regular Officer  
			   Paid Rank  
			  Nationality  Colonel  Lieutenant Colonel  Major  Captain  Subaltern  Total 
			 Total 5 10 50 65 45 180 
			 Australian 0 * 15 10 * 30 
			 Barbadian 0 0 0 * 0 * 
			 British Commonwealth 0 0 * * * 5 
			 Canadian * * 5 5 * 15 
			 Citizen of Fiji 0 0 * * 0 * 
			 Citizen of Sri Lanka * 0 0 0 0 * 
			 Ghanaian 0 0 * 0 * * 
			 Indian * * * * 0 10 
			 Jamaican 0 0 * 0 0 * 
			 Kenyan 0 0 * 0 0 * 
			 Malaysian 0 0 * * 0 * 
			 Maltese 0 * 0 0 0 * 
			 New Zealander 0 * 10 5 * 20 
			 Nigerian 0 0 * * 0 * 
			 Pakistani 0 0 * 0 0 * 
			 Sierra Leonean 0 0 0 * 0 * 
			 South African 0 0 * 20 30 50 
			 St. Lucian 0 0 0 * 0 * 
			 Trinidad and Tobago Citizen 0 * * 0 0 * 
			 Ugandan 0 0 0 * 0 * 
			 Zambian 0 0 0 * 0 * 
			 Zimbabwean 0 0 5 5 10 20 
			  Note: All figures are provisional 
		
	
	
		
			  Trained Regular Army Other Ranks by Paid Rank and Nationality as at 1 January 2008 
			   Regular Other Rank  
			   Paid Rank  
			  Nationality  Warrant Officer 1  Warrant Officer 2  Staff Sergeant  Sergeant  Corporal  Lance Corporal  Private  Total 
			 Total * * 10 35 530 1,955 3,240 5,770 
			 Antiguan 0 0 0 0 * * 0 * 
			 Australian 0 * * * 5 5 10 30 
			 Bangladeshi 0 0 0 0 * * * 5 
			 Barbadian 0 0 * 0 0 * * 10 
			 Belizean 0 0 0 0 0 * * * 
			 Botswanan 0 0 0 0 * * * 5 
			 British Commonwealth 0 * * 0 0 * * 5 
			 Canadian * 0 * 10 * 5 15 40 
			 Cameroonian 0 0 0 0 * 5 20 30 
			 Citizen of Fiji 0 0 * * 170 695 1,025 1,890 
			 Citizen of Seychelles 0 0 0 0 * * 5 10 
			 Citizen of Sri Lanka 0 0 0 0 * * * 10 
			 Dominican 0 0 0 0 0 * 15 20 
			 Gambian 0 0 0 0 * 20 75 95 
			 Ghanaian 0 0 0 * 30 155 465 650 
			 Grenadian 0 0 0 0 * 20 25 50 
			 Guyanese 0 0 0 0 * 5 10 15 
			 Indian 0 0 0 0 * 10 35 50 
			 Jamaican 0 0 0 0 60 300 380 740 
			 Kenyan 0 0 0 0 15 20 65 105 
			 Malawian 0 0 0 0 0 35 85 120 
			 Malaysian 0 0 0 0 0 0 * * 
			 Maltese 0 0 0 0 * * * * 
			 Mauritian 0 0 0 0 * 5 15 25 
			 New Zealander 0 * * * 10 10 10 40 
			 Nigerian 0 0 0 0 * 15 50 65 
			 Pakistani 0 0 0 0 * * * 5 
			 Papua New Guinean 0 0 0 * 0 0 * * 
			 Sierra Leonean 0 0 0 * * 5 30 40 
			 Singaporean 0 0 0 0 0 * 0 * 
			 South African 0 0 0 5 55 200 400 655 
			 St. Kittian and Nevisian * 0 0 0 0 0 0 * 
			 St. Lucian 0 0 0 0 25 80 90 195 
			 Swazi 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 10 
			 Tanzanian 0 0 0 0 0 * 0 * 
			 Trinidad and Tobago citizen 0 0 0 * 10 25 30 65 
			 Tongan 0 0 0 0 0 * 5 10 
			 Ugandan 0 0 0 0 * 10 40 50 
			 Vincentian 0 0 0 * 55 100 85 245 
			 Zambian 0 0 * 0 * 5 10 20 
			 Zimbabwean 0 0 0 5 60 195 190 450 
			 All figures are provisional  Notes: 1. Due to the ongoing validation of the new Joint Personnel Administration System all Army data from 1 April 2007 are provisional and subject to review. 2. The figures are for trained regular army personnel (Officers and Other Ranks) and therefore exclude Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) and Home Service Battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment. 3. All data have been rounded to the nearest 5 to limit disclosure and ensure confidentiality. 4. Numbers less than 5 have been suppressed and replaced with '*'.

Defence Equipment: Vehicles

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects an order to be placed with Force Protection Inc for the additional 140 Mastiff/Cougar vehicles.

Bob Ainsworth: We have already ordered the additional Mastiff vehicles and negotiations are ongoing with the US Department of Defence and the manufacturer to agree the precise delivery schedule.

Defence: ICT

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there have been changes in his Department's approach to information technology as a result of virtualisation; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 25 February 2008
	The Department is aware of the potential advantages offered by virtualisation. The term virtualisation covers a broad range of technical opportunities that have been around since the 1970s and the MOD over this period has made use of these techniques.
	In relation to the current growth in the virtualisation market, MOD and its commercial suppliers are considering the use of virtualisation techniques to pursue a number of benefits:
	To reduce the number of servers required to host legacy and future applications;
	To reduce the number of operating systems that are required to host legacy and future applications;
	For Information Assurance and business continuity reasons to allow load balancing and fault tolerance capabilities;
	As a way of running an application securely among other potentially less secure or resilient applications; and
	To ensure users can access legacy applications in a seamless manner from modern infrastructures.
	This list of examples is not exhaustive and the MOD just like any other Government or commercial enterprise will assess and exploit virtualisation as it continues to evolve.

Departmental Consultants

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on externally provided  (a) consultancy and  (b) other services in each of the last 10 years.

Derek Twigg: Summaries of MOD expenditure on external assistance, of which management consultancy is a part, are available in the Library of the House for the years 1995-96 to 2006-07. These summaries also include expenditure on certain other advisory services. Expenditure on the full range of other services which MOD procures is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Figures for 2007-08 will be placed in the Library before the summer recess.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by senior civil service staff in his Department and its agencies in the last 12 month period for which figures are available.

Derek Twigg: Total reimbursable expenses paid to MOD senior civil service staff between 1 February 2007 and 31 January 2008 were £540,000.

Departmental Retirement

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department retired on grounds of stress-related illness in each of the last three years.

Derek Twigg: Data for the number of civilian staff retiring from the Department on grounds of stress-related illness are not centrally held.

Departmental Translation Services

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of his Department's translation and interpreting work is outsourced through framework agreements with commercial providers; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 27 February 2008
	 No translation or interpreting work is currently outsourced by the Ministry of Defence Language Service through framework agreements with commercial providers. Equivalent information for any work outsourced by other parts of the Department could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Vehicles

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 7 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1492W, on departmental vehicles, how many white fleet vehicles his Department and its agencies leased in each year since 2001.

Bob Ainsworth: The number of white fleet vehicles leased by the Department in each year since 2001, (i.e. non-operational vehicles in England, Scotland and Wales), cannot be broken down into yearly totals, however the following 'snapshots' are available.
	
		
			  Date, as at:  Number of vehicles leased 
			 1 September 2001 8,063 
			 1 September 2002 8,910 
			 31 March 2003 12,754 
			 31 March 2004 13,723 
			 31 March 2005 14,211 
			 31 March 2006 14,599 
			 31 March 2007 15,009 
			 31 December 2007 15,138 
		
	
	Details of the number of white fleet vehicles leased by the MOD since 2001 in overseas theatres-by the MOD police, DSTL and Trading Funds-are not held centrally and therefore could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Future Rapid Effect System

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has made any changes to the number of units required for the Future Rapid Effect System.

Bob Ainsworth: The Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) is currently in its assessment phase; work on detailed requirements is continuing, and the fleet requirements for each FRES family will not be confirmed until the main investment decisions are taken.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military helicopters were leased commercially by his Department in each year since 1997; what types of helicopters were leased; and what the cost of leasing was in each year.

Bob Ainsworth: The numbers of helicopters leased by the Department in each year since 1997 and their associated costs are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Helicopter type  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Sikorsky S61N (1)— (1)— 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 
			 Dauphin AS365N2 (1)— (1)— 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Bell 212 — — 3 3 3 3 6 7 7 7 7 
			 Bell 412 9 9 9 9 9 13 15 15 15 15 15 
			 Single Squirrel HT1/HT2 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 37 37 
			 Eurocopter AS355F1 Twin Squirrel (1)— (1)— (1)— 3 3 3 3 3 3 — — 
			 Agusta A109E Power Elite — — — — — — — — — 3 3 
			 Total cost each year (£ million) 20 23 30 32 33 35 44 48 49 50 51 
			 (1) No data available. 
		
	
	In addition, during December 2007, MI-8 helicopter flying hours were commercially leased to help deliver mail and parcels to troops in Afghanistan. This cost has been incorporated into the 2007-08 total.
	Leasing arrangements do not all follow the same pattern with some forming part of Multi-Activity Contracts. This information is not held centrally and in compiling this answer, it has been identified that information was omitted from my reply to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox) on 6 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1407W. The costs for financial years 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 are £48 million, £49 million, £50 million and £51 million respectively.

Navy

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ships there are in the Royal Navy.

Bob Ainsworth: The Royal Navy currently has 75 surface ships of the following types: Landing Platform Dock, Landing Platform Helicopter, Aircraft Carriers, Destroyers, Frigates, Mine Countermeasures ships, River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels, Inshore Patrol Craft and Survey Ships. In addition, the Royal Navy has 13 submarines (ballistic and fleet).

Navy: Manpower

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many admirals there are in the Royal Navy.

Bob Ainsworth: There are two admirals, six vice admirals and 25 rear admirals currently serving in the Royal Navy. These numbers include admirals in Ministry Defence tri-service appointments.

Radar

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether funds will be made available for a third radar station at Staxton Wold if the new T102 radar is found to mitigate the effects of wind turbines;
	(2)  what his policy is on the use of the new T102 air defence radar near onshore and offshore wind turbines; and what assessment he has made of the effect of wind farms on the T102 radar system.

Derek Twigg: The T102 radar is a non-deployable air defence radar and will continue the role currently undertaken by the T93 radar contributing to the United Kingdom Air Surveillance and Control System. It is scheduled to replace the two T93 radars currently in operation at the Remote Radar Head (RRH) Trimingham and RRH Brizlee Wood with two new T102 radars during 2008. On current plans, we do not propose to procure a third T102 radar as we are scheduled to replace the T93 radar installed at Staxton Wold with a T101 transferred from another unit and this replacement radar will remain in service until 2017.
	Although it is hoped that the T102 radar will be able to mitigate some of the adverse effects of wind turbines we have, as yet, made no assessment of the effect of wind farms on the system. Once the radars are delivered, an operational assessment will be undertaken. This will include an assessment of the effect on the radar returns of those existing wind turbine developments that fall within the radar coverage area.
	If the mitigation provided by the T102 is not enough, we are ready to look with other stakeholders (e.g. DBERR and individual wind farm developers) at other possibilities to ensure we have the radar coverage needed in the air space above wind turbines.

Royal Military Academy: Foreigners

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria are used to decide which nationalities of foreign citizens may be trained at RMA Sandhurst.

Bob Ainsworth: Places at RMA Sandhurst are allocated in accordance with defence policy and wider Government conflict prevention objectives.

Royal Military Academy: Foreigners

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many foreign citizens were trained at RMA Sandhurst since 1997; and of what nationalities.

Bob Ainsworth: 800 students from 79 countries have trained at RMA Sandhurst since 1997. Their nationalities are set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Country  Total  1977  1988  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008( 1) 
			  Commissioning Course  
			 Afghanistan 8 — — — — — — — — 3 3 2 — 
			 Albania 1 — — — — — — — — — 1 — — 
			 Algeria 2 — — — — — — — — — 1 1 — 
			 Antigua 1 — — — — — — — — — 1 — — 
			 Armenia 1 — — — — — — — 1 — — — — 
			 Azerbaijan 1 — — — — — — — 1 — — — — 
			 Bahrain 45 4 4 4 5 5 4 6 2 5 3 2 1 
			 Bangladesh 7 — — — — — — 2 2 1 1 1 — 
			 Barbados 3 — 1 — 1 — — — 1 — — — — 
			 Belize 32 3 4 4 2 4 3 4 2 3 1 2 — 
			 Bhutan 1 — — — — — — — — 1 — — — 
			 Bolivia 1 — — — — — — — 1 — — — — 
			 Botswana 15 3 2 2 2 1 1 — 1 1 1 1 — 
			 Brunei 39 2 1 3 2 8 5 4 4 2 4 3 1 
			 China 1 — — — — — — — — — — 1 — 
			 Czech Republic 5 1 1 — — — 1 1 1 — — — — 
			 Egypt 5 — — — — 1 1 1 1 1 — — — 
			 El Salvador 2 — — 1 1 — — — — — — — — 
			 Ethiopia 3 — — — — — — 1 — — 2 — — 
			 Fiji 16 2 2 3 2 — 2 2 1 2 — — — 
			 Gambia 5 — — — 1 — — — — 1 — 2 1 
			 Georgia 4 — — 1 1 1 1 — — — — — — 
			 Ghana 6 2 1 — 1 — — — 1 — — — 1 
			 Guatemala 6 1 1 1  1 1 — — 1 — — — 
			 Guyana 5 1 1 — 1 — — — 1 — 1 — — 
			 Hungary 2 2 — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Iraq 8 — — — — — — — 2 2 2 2 — 
			 Ireland 1 — — 1 — — — — — — — — — 
			 Jamaica 51 7 9 2 4 2 6 4 3 5 2 5 2 
			 Jordan 23 1 1 4 1 1 4 1 3 2 2 2 1 
			 Kazakhstan 2 — — — — — — 1 1 — — — — 
			 Kenya 9 2 — — — — — 2 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Kuwait 55 8 8 4 6 5 6 3 5 2 4 4 — 
			 Kyrgyzstan 1 — — — — — — 1 — — — — — 
			 Latvia 2 — — — — 1 1 — — — — — — 
			 Lesotho 2 — 1 — — — — — — — 1 — — 
			 Lithuania 3 — — — 1 — 1 1 — — — — — 
			 Luxembourg 2 — — — — 1 — 1 — — — — — 
			 Malawi 14 2 2 3 2 1 1 — — — 1 1 1 
			 Malaysia 7 1 1 — — — — — 1 3 1 — — 
			 Maldives 2 — — 1 — — — — — — — 1 — 
			 Malta 12 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 — 
			 Mauritius 2 1 — — — — 1 — — — — — — 
			 Mauritania 1 1 — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Morocco 1 — — — 1 — — — — — — — — 
			 Mozambique 3 1 — — — 1 — — — — — 1 — 
			 Namibia 4 2 — 1 — — — — — — — 1 — 
			 Nepal 25 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 
			 Nigeria 14 — — — 1 3 2 2 1 2 2 — 1 
			 Oman 55 3 6 3 4 6 3 5 7 7 2 5 4 
			 Pakistan 14 2 2 2 — 2 1 — 1 1 1 2 — 
			 Palestine 2 — — — — — — — — — — 2 — 
			 Papua New Guinea 3 1 — 1 — — — 1 — — — — — 
			 Paraguay 5 1 1 — 2 — 1 — — — — — — 
			 Philippines 3 — — — — 1 — — 1 — 1 — — 
			 Qatar 27 4 7 3 2 3 1 1 — 2 — 3 1 
			 Rwanda 1 — — — — — — — — — — — 1 
			 Saudi Arabia 13 1 — 1 1  2 1 1 2 2 2 — 
			 Senegal 11 — — 3 2 3 — — 1 1 — — 1 
			 Singapore 16 2 — — 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 
			 Slovenia 1 — — — — — — — 1 — — — — 
			 South Arica 6 — — — 1 1 1 1 — 1 1 — — 
			 Sri Lanka 8 1 1 — 1 — — 1 1 1 1 — 1 
			 Sudan 2 — — — — — — — — — — — 2 
			 Swaziland 2 — 1 — — 1 — — — — — — — 
			 Syria 1 — — — — — — 1 — — — — — 
			 Tanzania 9 1 1 1 — 1 1 1 1 1 — 1 — 
			 Thailand 13 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 — 
			 Tonga 1 — — — 1 — — — — — — — — 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 3 — 2 — 1 — — — — — — — — 
			 Uganda 8 — 1 2 — — — 1 1 1 1 1 — 
			 Ukraine 6 1 1 1 1 1 1 — — — — — — 
			 United Arab Emirates 72 6 1 4 2 7 9 11 8 7 6 9 2 
			 Uruguay 1 1 — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Uzbekistan 2 — — — — — — 1 — 1 — — — 
			 Yemen 20 1 — — 1 — 4 5 3 — 3 3 — 
			 Zimbabwe 8 3 2 2 1 — — — — — — — — 
			 Totals 774 79 71 63 60 68 71 73 69 69 59 67 25 
			   
			  Professionally Qualified Officer  
			 Bahrain 4 — — — — — — — — — 1 — 1 
			 Brunei 4 — — — 1 — — — — 2 — 1 — 
			 Estonia 1 — — — — 1 — — — — — — — 
			 Total 7 — — — 1 1 — — — 2 — 1 1 
			   
			  TA Commissioning Course  
			 Bermuda 19 — — 5 2 — — 4 3 2 2 — 1 
			   
			 Grand totals 800 79 71 68 63 69 71 77 72 73 62 68 27 
			 (1) 2008: January course only.

UN Resolutions

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government have taken in support of implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

Des Browne: The UK is one of only six countries to have drawn up a National Action Plan for the implementation of UNSCR 1325. This outlines how the UK implements the resolution in a wide range of areas. The main focus for the Ministry of Defence is to ensure that female personnel are deployed in appropriate numbers on operations, and that the provisions of UNSCR1325 are reflected in operational planning, doctrine and training.
	The Department has conducted an audit of existing training which concluded that British military personnel generally receive sufficient training to ensure that they are compliant with the intent of the resolution. Following the recommendations of the audit, we have also ensured that the resolution is covered in relevant doctrine, and that pre-deployment training includes relevant briefings on the role/relevance of gender to the specific society living in the operational area.
	More information on the Government's efforts to implement UNSCR 1325 is available on the FCO website:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1142534038014

Weapons

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to purchase replacement barrels for the GPMG and 0.5 calibre M2 heavy machine gun.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 21 February 2008
	The current in-service GPMG and 0.5 cal heavy machine gun (quick change barrel) (HMG (QCB)) is designed to enable their barrels to be changed easily. Spare barrels are purchased with all new weapons and, in addition, replacement barrels (and other consumable spares) are routinely purchased as part of ordinary provisioning activity.
	The 0.5 cal M2 heavy machine gun underwent a significant modification programme in 1999 to incorporate a new quick change barrel and become the current in-service 0.5 cal HMG (QCB). Modified M2s currently account for around 40 per cent. of the HMG (QCB) fleet, the remainder being new buys made to HMG (QCB) specifications. All replacement barrels for HMGs are therefore QCBs, not the original M2 barrels.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Bombs

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to  (a) participate in future Oslo Process conferences,  (b) sign up to a treaty to prohibit the use, production and transfer of cluster munitions and  (c) declare a moratorium on the use, production and transfer of cluster munitions until a treaty is in place; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We look forward to taking part in the next Oslo Process conference in Dublin in May when negotiations on a treaty are due to conclude. We have been fully committed to the Oslo Process from the start. We were among the original 46 nations that supported the Oslo Declaration in February 2007, which began this process to conclude a legally binding instrument to prohibit those cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians in 2008. We are pleased to have associated ourselves with the Wellington Declaration (22 February 2008) that brings us a step closer to achieving this aim.
	We and our EU partners also want the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) to adopt a legally binding instrument on cluster munitions as soon as possible. This would ensure that our humanitarian objective is fully achieved as the CCW includes the main users and producers of these weapons who have remained outside the Oslo Process.
	In March 2007 my right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary announced the withdrawal of the UK's basic cluster munitions (systems that have neither target discrimination capability, nor an in-built self-destruct mechanism). The Government believe withdrawing a weapon, as we did, is more sustainable than a moratorium because the weapons are clearly put beyond use. We cannot exclude the use of the cluster munitions that we retained in certain circumstances.

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of his Department's civil servants were  (a) suspended and  (b) dismissed for accessing (i) obscene and (ii) other prohibited material on work computers in each of the last five years.

Kim Howells: No official has been dismissed from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in the last five years for accessing obscene or other prohibited material on work computers.
	Guidance is circulated to staff on a regular basis on the use of work computers. This includes a reminder that failure to comply with the guidance may result in disciplinary action under the FCO's Misconduct Procedure.

Departmental Information Officers

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many  (a) press and  (b) communications officers his Department employed in each of the last 10 years.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) employed 36 press officers in the 2006-07 financial year, 30 in 2005-06, 26 plus one part-time officer in 2004-05 and 41 in 2003-04. There are no records for the number of press officers pre-2003. The FCO does not have a "communications officer" grade.
	The Central Office of Information publishes the "White Book" twice a year, which contains listings of FCO and other Government Department press officers.

Departmental Information Officers

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department paid in bonuses to press and communication officers in each of the last 10 years; and what the  (a) highest and  (b) lowest such bonus was in each of those years.

Meg Munn: Press officers' bonuses totalled £4,320 for the 2006-07 financial year and £4,900 for the 2005-06 financial year. The highest and lowest bonuses were £750 and £280 for 2006-07 and £600 and £300 for 2005-06. No bonuses were paid in 2004-05 or 2003-04. There are no records for bonus payments pre-2003.
	Bonuses recognise a well-performed one-off task or exercise, for example exceptional achievement outside the job specification or exemplary meeting of an objective.

Departmental Internet

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 28 January 2008,  Official Report, column 52W, on departmental internet, where the locally-engaged commercial officer was engaged.

Meg Munn: The locally engaged commercial officer referred to in the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 28 January 2008,  Official Report, column 52W was engaged by our embassy in Santiago.

Departmental Manpower

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many  (a) staff and  (b) full-time equivalent staff under 18 years of age are employed by his Department.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office currently employs three civil servants who are under 18 years of age. All are full-time employees.

Departmental Retirement

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff in his Department retired on grounds of stress-related illness in each of the last three years.

Meg Munn: As there have been fewer than five people who have taken ill health retirement due to stress-related illness we are unable to provide the information requested by the hon. Member on grounds of confidentiality.

Falkland Islands

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Falkland Islands  (a) Governor and  (b) Government on South Georgia, South Orkney, South Sandwich and other territories in the South Atlantic.

Kim Howells: The Governor of the Falkland Islands is also the Commissioner for South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, but the two positions are separate and distinct. He has no responsibility for any of the other Overseas Territories in the south Atlantic, nor South Orkney, which is administered as part of the British Antarctic Territory. The Falkland Islands government has no responsibilities in relation to South Georgia, the South Sandwich Islands, South Orkney or any other territories in the south Atlantic.
	The Governor/Commissioner maintains a regular dialogue with Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials to ensure that the priorities set out in the 1999 White Paper on the Overseas Territories are being met.

Falkland Islands: Oil

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UK plans to support the secure development of oil and gas exploration facilities in the Falkland Islands waters.

Kim Howells: holding answer 28 February 2008
	As my right hon. Friend the then Minister for Europe (Mr. Hoon) stated in his written answer to my hon. Friend on 5 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1157W, the Government will play a role in supporting the secure development of oil and gas exploration facilities in the Falkland Islands territorial sea and continental shelf. The Government are responsible for the external security and defence of the Falkland Islands. The provision of routine security and policing of oil rigs is a matter for the Falkland Islands government and the oil exploration companies.

Falkland Islands: Oil

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Government have held with  (a) the Falkland Islands Government and  (b) the Argentine Government on exploration for oil and gas in Falkland Islands waters.

Kim Howells: holding answer 28 February 2008
	The Government hold regular discussions with the Falkland Islands Government on issues including the exploration for oil and gas in Falkland Islands waters. Most recently, these have included meetings between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) Director General for Defence and Intelligence and other FCO officials with representatives of the Falkland Islands Government in January and February 2008.
	There have been no discussions, with the Argentine Government, on the exploration for oil and gas in Falkland Islands waters since the South West Atlantic Hydro Carbons Commission ceased to meet in July 2000. On 27 March 2007, the Argentine Government announced its repudiation of the 1995 Joint Declaration on hydrocarbon exploration in the special co-operation area. We regret the Argentine decision, which makes future co-operation in this area more difficult. But we remain committed to promoting practical cooperation with Argentina in the South Atlantic and on broader international issues.

Falkland Islands: Politics and Government

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Falkland Islands about constitutional reform there.

Kim Howells: Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have held two rounds of talks in Stanley with the Select Committee on the Constitution, of which all are Falkland Island councillors. The first round was held in December 2007 and the second in February 2008. The discussions are progressing well.

Israel: Human Rights

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 709-10W, on Israel: human rights, whether the human rights abuses referred to breach the human rights provisions of any EU trade agreements.

Kim Howells: The European Commission does not consider that Israel's actions are in breach of the human rights provisions of any EU trade agreements.
	Dialogue between the parties continues to be the best hope of a peaceful and secure future for both Israel and the Palestinians. We will continue to raise our concerns about human rights issues with Israel and the Palestinian Authority both bilaterally and with EU partners. The EU's relationship with Israel provides the framework for free and frank discussion of issues of concern, including human rights.

Oslo Process Conference

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK representatives are attending the Oslo Process conference in New Zealand from 18 to 22 February 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Eleven UK representatives were accredited. Five were officials based at our high commission in Wellington, of whom three actually attended conference events. Four officials travelled from the UK—two from the Ministry of Defence, one from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and one from the Department for International Development. Two officials from the UK Permanent Representation to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva attended the conference, including the head of delegation, ambassador John Duncan.

Simon Mann

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact on relations between Equatorial Guinea and the United Kingdom of the abduction and imprisonment of Simon Mann by that country.

Kim Howells: holding answer 28 February 2008
	The UK has limited bilateral contact with Equatorial Guinea. The removal of Simon Mann to that country has increased our contact with Equatorial Guinean authorities, as we have sought consular access to Mr. Mann and made representations as to his welfare.

Sudan: China

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in discussions with his Chinese counterpart on the  (a) political and  (b) humanitarian situation in Darfur.

Meg Munn: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister agreed with Chinese Premier Wen, when they met in Beijing in January, that they would work together to advance both political talks and deployment of the UN-African Union peacekeeping force for Darfur. Since then my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has discussed the issues further with Premier Wen and Chinese State Councillor Tang, and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary with the Chinese Foreign Minister Yang in advance of his own visit to China on 27 February.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development, my noble Friend the Minister of State for the UN, Africa and Asia, the right hon. Lord Malloch-Brown, and other ministerial colleagues and officials have also raised these points with the Chinese Special Envoy for Africa during the Envoy's visit last week to London, and in particular have encouraged him to urge restraint on all sides during his forthcoming talks in Khartoum and N'Djamena.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Iraq: Documents

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish the detailed comments passed on by Ann Taylor to John Scarlett on the draft dossier on Iraq on 19 September 2002 which were referred to in evidence to the Hutton inquiry (ISC/3/0003).

Edward Miliband: The Cabinet Office has no record of any written comments passed on by Ann Taylor to John Scarlett on the draft dossier. John Scarlett held a meeting with Ann Taylor on 19 September 2002 to brief her about the contents of the draft dossier. This briefing was given to her in her capacity as Chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee.

Refuges: Finance

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps his Department is taking to support the work of women's refuges and crisis centres in  (a) Skelmersdale and  (b) in England.

Iain Wright: I have been asked to reply.
	There is a range of support for victims of domestic violence. Some victims will be accommodated in refuges, but sanctuary schemes and mainstream local authority accommodation may be an option for others, while some victims will pursue independent solutions with help and advice from support schemes as necessary. In 2006-07, over £61 million of Supporting People funding was used to provide housing related support for victims of domestic violence in England. Services are commissioned by top-tier local authorities to meet local needs. As such Government collect no data on the level of support in Skelmersdale itself. However, our records indicate that in 2006-07 Lancashire county council spent over £1.2 million to provide housing related support for victims of domestic violence.

Special Adviser Legal Expenses

David Burrowes: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 14 January 2007,  Official Report, columns 911-2W and the letter of 18 December 2007 from the Cabinet Secretary to the Chairman of the Public Administration Select Committee, what contribution the Labour Party made towards legal expenses incurred in relation to special advisers.

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 755-6W, on honours: criminal investigation, and with reference to the letter of 18 December 2007 from the Cabinet Secretary to the Chairman of the Public Administration Committee, what the financial contribution was from the Labour Party to the costs of external legal advice for special advisers.

Edward Miliband: The Labour Party contribution towards the cost of legal expenses incurred by Government in relation to special advisers is £85,380.89.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Actis

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how the Government calculated the value of the 60 per cent. stake in Actis prior to its sale in 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: DFID and an Independent Committee of the CDC Board commissioned KPMG, Corporate Finance Consultants, to undertake an objective valuation of the whole business and then to advise on the appropriate value of the 60 per cent. ownership interest. The valuation methodology was comprehensive and based on standard practice.
	The valuation advice was reviewed and accepted by the Independent Committee and verified by DFID's independent financial adviser, Campbell Lutyens and Co Ltd.

Actis

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much was spent on  (a) internal and  (b) external (i) advisers and (ii) consultants for services in relation to the sale of Actis; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: DFID spent £14,651 on internal advisers and £2,708,362 on consultants in relation to the establishment and sale of Actis. However, part of this amount was spent on consultants who worked on the overall reorganisation of CDC which included, but went beyond the establishment of, the Actis Partnership. We are not able to disaggregate those costs that relate only to the establishment and sale of the Actis Partnership.
	The restructuring was a complex process that required expert advice on a range of issues. It is entirely normal for Government Departments to seek and use outside expertise when dealing with these issues.

Afghanistan: Drugs

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what advice his Department is providing to the Government of Afghanistan on the provision of alternative livelihoods to those within the drugs economy.

Douglas Alexander: In February 2008, DFID and the World Bank launched a report entitled Afghanistan-Economic Incentives and Development Initiatives to Reduce Opium Production. Following wide consultation, including with a number of Afghan ministries, the report identifies areas for investment which will progressively reduce over time Afghanistan's dependence on opium. The recommendations in the report are addressed to both the Government of Afghanistan and the international community.
	The report recommends four entry points for shifting incentives away from drugs towards legal livelihoods:
	(i) increasing investment in integrated agricultural support programmes, irrigation and livestock;
	(ii) supporting rural enterprise and job creation;
	(iii) expanding rural infrastructure programmes particularly roads and water; and
	(iv) strengthening village and district level governance bodies.
	A copy of the report will be placed in the Library of the House.

Afghanistan: Education

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) schools,  (b) teachers and  (c) pupils in Afghanistan, in the last two years, broken down by state.

Douglas Alexander: Data are not currently available in the time frame requested. However, we estimate that there are currently around 5.4 million children now in school in Afghanistan, over a third of them girls. This is up from an estimated one million children in 2001, of whom very few were girls, who were officially denied access to education under the Taliban. 27 per cent. of girls and 44 per cent. of boys in rural areas now attend school, and 51 per cent. of girls and 55 per cent. of boys in urban areas now attend school.
	Current Government of Afghanistan figures estimate that there are currently 8,000 useable schools in Afghanistan and between 30,000 and 40,000 students complete high school every year, with one third going on to further education.
	The Ministry of Education in Afghanistan has published its National Education Strategic plan for Afghanistan 2006-10. A copy has been placed in the Library for further information.

Afghanistan: Health Services

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) health care facilities,  (b) doctors and  (c) people treated in Afghanistan, in each of the last two years, broken down by province.

Douglas Alexander: This information is not publicly available, however DFID obtained the following figures from the Afghanistan Ministry of Public Health:
	
		
			  2007 
			  Province  Healthcare facilities  Doctors  Number of people treated 
			 Kabul 124 1,461 1,226,552 
			 Kapisa 35 30 508,076 
			 Parwan 58 51 683,387 
			 Wardak 49 76 615,250 
			 Logar 39 46 425,654 
			 Ghanzi 68 136 640,935 
			 Paktya 31 131 287,511 
			 Nangahar 84 260 1,200,396 
			 Laghman 27 68 428,468 
			 Kunar 26 54 399,679 
			 Badakshan 58 70 550,718 
			 Takhar 57 110 655,459 
			 Baglan 44 110 596,897 
			 Kunduz 46 79 679,519 
			 Samangan 30 34 382,301 
			 Balkh 97 315 849,549 
			 Jawzjan 25 135 383,048 
			 Fariyab 38 103 427,588 
			 Badghis 31 48 321,050 
			 Hirat 68 148 1,074,780 
			 Farah 28 56 233,318 
			 Nimroz 13 22 168,670 
			 Hilmand 38 57 200,483 
			 Kandahar 37 80 408,581 
			 Zabul 13 11 144,195 
			 Uruzgan 7 26 167,661 
			 Ghor 36 18 257,223 
			 Bamyan 48 65 384,610 
			 Paktika 31 58 267,515 
			 Nuristan 16 24 162,837 
			 Sari Pul 43 38 509,469 
			 Khost 28 91 334,142 
			 Panjsher 21 18 141,793 
			 Daykundi 30 15 220,126 
		
	
	The only data available for 2006 are for the number of patients treated in each province:
	
		
			  Province  Number of people treated 
			 Kabul 834,509 
			 Kapisa 424,921 
			 Parwan 645,791 
			 Wardak 545,630 
			 Logar 417,853 
			 Ghanzi 608,897 
			 Paktya 242,205 
			 Nangahar 957,070 
			 Laghman 359,482 
			 Kunar 354,908 
			 Badakshan 465,660 
			 Takhar 578,883 
			 Baglan 521,099 
			 Kunduz 679,946 
			 Samangan 308,049 
			 Balkh 810,687 
			 Jawzjan 212,671 
			 Fariyab 350,528 
			 Badghis 217,912 
			 Hirat 1,058,528 
			 Farah 259,207 
			 Nimroz 83,545 
			 Hilmand 248,698 
			 Kandahar 315,568 
			 Zabul 126,296 
			 Uruzgan 144,275 
			 Ghor 225,520 
			 Bamyan 341,344 
			 Paktika 212,000 
			 Nuristan 160,178 
			 Sari Pul 373,470 
			 Khost 242,526 
			 Panjsher 176,783 
			 Daykundi 73,001

Departmental Property

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what property has been lost or stolen from his Department since 1997; and what the cost of replacement was.

Gillian Merron: Central records are held by DFID for a maximum of seven years before destruction. Our central records show property lost or stolen since calendar year 2001 as follows. Value shown is the amount recorded in the losses register. Replacement values are not recorded centrally; as to do so would incur disproportionate costs.
	
		
			   Lost  Stolen  Total No.  Total value (£) 
			 Mobile/Conference/Satellite Phones 10 19 29 3,302.92 
			 PDAs 0 2 2 170.45 
			 Laptops 3 37 40 39,743.59 
			 IT Equipment 3 5 8 5697.40 
			 Project Equipment/Cash 0 6 6 37,830.02 
			 Cameras/Video Camera 1 3 4 1919 
			 Motorcycle 0 1 1 1644 
			 Journals/Books 1 0 1 93.00 
			 Other 1 0 1 240.00

Departmental Travel: Eurostar

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  how much his Department spent on  (a) first and  (b) other class travel by Eurostar in the last 12 months for which figures are available;
	(2)  how much his Department and its agencies spent on first class travel in the last 12 months for which figures are available, broken down by staff grade.

Gillian Merron: DFID's expenditure on Eurostar for the period April 2006 to March 2007 was £84,960 for first class travel and £40,163 for other class travel.
	DFID's total expenditure on first class travel for the period April 2006 to March 2007 was £322,617. Travel data disaggregated by staff grade is not routinely maintained and could not be produced without incurring disproportionate cost. The Department has no agencies.
	All travel is undertaken in compliance with DFID rules set out in the Staff Handbook.

Infant Mortality

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress his Department has made towards meeting Millennium Development Goal 4 on reducing child mortality.

Douglas Alexander: The latest assessment of progress towards Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 4 is included in the annual "State of the World's Children Report" by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) published in January 2008. Overall in 2006, global child deaths reached a record low of 9.7 million, down from 13 million in 1990. The report showed that solid progress has been made in a number of countries such as Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda and Tanzania.
	The report also highlighted that a concentrated push is required to accelerate progress in West Africa and parts of Asia to cut child deaths. MDG 4 is inextricably linked to MDG 5 (to improve maternal health) as 40 per cent. of children under the age of five are dying within a few days of birth. This is why the Prime Minister has called for 2008 to be a year of action towards meeting the MDGs especially those concerned with child mortality (MDG 4) and maternal health (MDG 5), which remain the most off-track.

Jamaica: Sugar

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the distribution of funds committed in support of the transition of the Jamaican sugar industry in the Accompanying Measures for Sugar Protocol countries as part of the reform of the EU sugar regime.

Gareth Thomas: To access their allocation under the Accompanying Measures for Sugar Protocol countries (AMSP), each eligible country had to submit a National Action Plan (NAP) showing how they intend to spend the money. The focus of the Government of Jamaica's (GoJ) NAP is to improve the competitiveness of the sugar cane industry through greater private sector involvement and to develop sustainable alternative economic activities for rural farmers who are not able to stay in the industry. Given the increased competition that Jamaican sugar now faces in the world market and the opportunity that this increased competition brings, the GoJ approach appears to be along the right lines. The mechanism for delivery of the funds to the GoJ is through direct budget support, backed by a wide range of macroeconomic targets.
	Both DFID Caribbean and the EC delegation in Jamaica will continue to monitor the implementation and effect of the AMSP on the various aspects of the Jamaican economy. However, since 2007 represents the first year of allocation to the GoJ under the AMSP, it is not envisaged that a full assessment will be undertaken until late 2009. This assessment will be lead by the EC delegation in Jamaica.

Kosovo: Higher Education

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the number of students enrolled in tertiary education in Kosovo, broken down by sex; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The Second Millennium Development Goals Report for Kosovo states that in 2004-05 there were 28,935 students in tertiary education, of whom 46 per cent. were female.

Kosovo: HIV Infection

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the prevalence of  (a) HIV/AIDS and  (b) tuberculosis in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: While health data in Kosovo are weak, HIV prevalence is widely estimated to be low. Despite a number of risk factors which could increase HIV infection rates, the UN considers Kosovo to be on track to meet the MDG target on HIV/AIDS.
	TB incidence in Kosovo averages 48 new cases per 100,000. This is slightly higher than neighbouring countries, reflecting overall lower average health outcomes in Kosovo.

Kosovo: Income

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of Kosovo's  (a) gross national income and  (b) average earnings per head of population in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The Statistics Office of Kosovo and the International Monetary Fund estimate that gross domestic product (GDP) per capita for 2006 is €1,117. There are no published estimates of gross national income (GNI), but gross national disposable income (GNDI) per capita has been estimated at €1,268. According to the Statistics Office of Kosovo, the average income earner received €2,032 in 2005.
	The Department for International Development is working with the Government of Kosovo and other donors to promote a strategic approach to poverty reduction with a focus on economic growth.

Kosovo: Infant Mortality

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the levels of  (a) infant and  (b) maternal mortality in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Kosovo has yet to establish reliable health statistics and the data currently available are limited and of poor quality.
	The most reliable estimate of infant mortality currently available is a 2003 survey which showed 35 to 49 deaths per thousand live births. The number of officially registered maternal deaths gives an average rate of 12.6 per 100,000 births for the period 2000-05.
	The Department for International Development is working with other donors to improve the quality of health care delivered by municipal governments. We are also supporting the government of Kosovo to improve its statistics systems.

Kosovo: Poverty

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the level of poverty in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Based on national data, the World Bank estimates that 45 per cent. of the Kosovo population live beneath the national poverty line. Of these, 15 per cent. are classed as extremely poor. This makes Kosovo the poorest country in the Balkans.
	The Department for International Development is working with the Government of Kosovo and other donors to promote a strategic approach to poverty reduction with a focus on economic growth.

Kosovo: Unemployment

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of levels of  (a) youth,  (b) female and  (c) total unemployment in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Unemployment in Kosovo is among the highest in the world. National statistics place unemployment among people aged 15 to 24 at 70 per cent., unemployment of women at 60 per cent., and total unemployment at 41 per cent.
	The Department for International Development is currently working with key donor partners to assist the government of Kosovo in formulating a strategy for economic growth in Kosovo.

UN Convention Against Corruption

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the UK has implemented the UN Convention against Corruption.

Gareth Thomas: The UK ratified the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) on 9 February 2008.

TREASURY

Taxation: Gambling

Paul Rowen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which gambling products are subject to more than one ad valorem tax.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 5 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1059W to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Yardley (John Hemming).

WORK AND PENSIONS

Income Support: Pensioners

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Nottingham North constituency received assistance under the minimum income guarantee in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Mike O'Brien: In Nottingham North, 4,760 households were in receipt of the pension credit guarantee credit as at August 2007—of which 1,910 households were in receipt of the guarantee credit only and 2,850 households were in receipt of both the guarantee credit and savings credit.
	 Notes:
	1. The figures provided are early estimates. The preferred data source for figures supplied by DWP is the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS). However, the figure provided is the latest available figure, which is taken from the GMS scan at 31 August 2007. These are adjusted using the historical relationship between WPLS and GMS data to give an estimate of the final WPLS figure.
	2. We have taken the minimum income guarantee to mean the pension credit guarantee credit.
	3. Case loads are rounded to the nearest 10.
	4. Households are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves only or on behalf of a household.

Low Incomes

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of water bills as a proportion of incomes of less than  (a) 30 per cent.,  (b) 40 per cent.,  (c) 50 per cent. and  (d) 60 per cent. of the median in each year since 1997.

Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 29 February 2008:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking the Secretary of State for Work & Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of water bills as a proportion of incomes of less than (a) 30 per cent, (b) 40 per cent, (c) 50 per cent, and (d) 60 per cent of the median average in each year since 1997. I am replying in her absence. (185864).
	The most common and internationally recognised threshold to measure poverty is income below 60 per cent of median. The sample size for the number of households with an income below 30 per cent of median is too small to yield reliable results. In addition presenting information for households with an income of 40 or 50 per cent of median income can be misleading. One reason for this is that households stating the lowest incomes may not actually have the lowest living standards. Many households who report very low incomes appear to have high spending equivalent to households higher in the income distribution.
	The table provided shows water bill expenditure as a percentage of unequivalised disposable income for households that have income of 40, 50 and 60 per cent below median income. Due to the issue of small sample size, an average for the period 2000/01 to 2002/03 and 2003/04 to 2005/06 has been provided. Data for 1997/98 to 1999/00 are not readily available.
	
		
			  Water bills as a percentage of median household disposable income( 1) , United Kingdom 
			  Percentage 
			   Households where income is below 
			   40 per cent. of median( 2)  50 per cent. of median( 2)  60 per cent. of median( 2) 
			 2000-01 to 2002-03 3.9 3.2 2.8 
			 2003-04 to 2005-06 3.7 3.0 2.7 
			 (1) Unequivalised household disposable income. (2) Ranked by unequivalised disposable income.  Source: Office for National Statistics from Expenditure and Food Survey.

National Carers Strategy

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the review of the National Carers Strategy will be completed.

Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department is currently drafting the revised strategy following an extensive regional and national consultation process involving carers and representative organisations. The Department plans to publish the new strategy in late spring 2008.

National Insurance: Fraud

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to reduce national insurance number fraud.

James Plaskitt: Jobcentre Plus already has a robust adult national insurance number (NINO) allocation process which includes thorough face-to-face interviews with applicants, and the use of specialist document examination tools for verification of identity documents.
	This robust process has resulted in 1,020 refusals during 2006-2007 due to suspect identity documentation and led to 364 prosecutions. A further 12,602 refusals between April 2006 and November 2007 were made on the basis of failing to provide sufficient evidence of identity. An additional 8,643 applications have been refused between July 2006 and November 2007, on the basis of failing to provide proof of the right to work.
	We are continually looking to strengthen our checks on the identity of individuals and we will be taking full advantage of the opportunities from biometric development and other cross-government initiatives as they become available.

New Deal Schemes

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to amend the requirement that participants in the proposed flexible New Deal complete four weeks of full-time activity; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Flexible New Deal providers will provide programmes of support that address individuals' needs which may include periods of full-time activity to help customers get and sustain work. The expectation remains that no customer who completes 12 months on the flexible New Deal could have done so without undertaking an appropriate period of full-time activity. The Government will work with providers on the best way to include this in flexible New Deal contracts.

Offices: Pension Service

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans his Department has to co-locate the Pension Service and the Disability and Carers Service staff in the same offices.

Mike O'Brien: There are no current plans in place to change the locations of staff. Some staff are already co-located.

Pension Credit

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) the UK received pension credit in each year since its inception.

Mike O'Brien: The information is in the following table.
	In Northern Ireland Pension Credit administration is a matter for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
	
		
			  The number of households receiving pension credit 2003-2007 
			   Jarrow Constituency  South Tyneside Local Authority  North East Government Office Region  Great Britain 
			 November 2003 4,640 9,060 124,280 2,084,700 
			 May 2004 5,460 10,580 147,570 2,490,760 
			 May 2005 5,800 11,290 156,680 2,682,730 
			 May 2006 5,870 11,350 157,430 2,717,390 
			 May 2007 5,900 11,320 157,440 2,733,500 
			  Notes:  1. The number of households in receipt are rounded to the nearest 10.  2. Pension Credit was introduced in October 2003 so data for 2003 is as at November.  3. Household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves only or on behalf of a household.   Source: DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent data

Pension Service: Disability and Carer's Service

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place a copy of the merger plan for the Pension Service and the Disability and Carer's Service in the Library.

Mike O'Brien: The business plan for the new Pension, Disability and Carers Service Agency will be published ready for its launch on 1 April 2008, and this will contain information about how the merger will be taken forward from that date.

Pension, Disability and Carers Service Agency

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the evidential basis is for the new Pension, Disability and Carers Service Agency providing a more effective service;
	(2)  what account was taken of the proportion of the customers of the Disability and Carers Service who are now also customers of the Pension Service in deciding to establish the new Pension, Disability and Carers Service Agency.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 25 February 2008
	The decision to create the new agency took into account evidence from the customers of the currently separate Disability and Carers Service and The Pension Service. Customers say that the most difficult problems they face are when they need to deal with more than one part of the Department for Work and Pensions, and that these overlaps occur most often when benefits for disabled people and carers are involved. The decision also reflects work undertaken by the two agencies—for example in how we serve carers, how we provide a face-to-face service where we need to—which concluded that the existence of two agencies created barriers to customer service that had to be removed. The new agency will also create efficiencies through merging the top teams and, over time, the support functions of the existing agencies, which will allow proportionately more resource to be redirected to front-line customer service.
	Currently 53 per cent. of Disability and Carers Service customers are over pension age and are customers of both agencies. Demographic changes mean that this overlap will increase over time. On current estimates, by 2015, we can expect a 40 per cent. increase in the number of disability living allowance recipients who are pensioners. The increasing shared customer base was a principal factor in the decision to establish the new agency.

Pensioners: Poverty

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of levels of pensioner poverty; and what steps he is taking to improve the financial prospects of pensioners in Essex.

Mike O'Brien: Since 1997 over one million pensioners have been lifted out of poverty (measured by 60 per cent. of relative income after housing costs). Pensioners are now no more likely to be in poverty than the population as a whole.
	There are a range of measures to improve pensioner incomes, such as minimum income guarantee and its successor pension credit, winter fuel payments, free TV licences for those aged 75 and over, and above inflation increases in the basic state pension.
	Specific information regarding low income for the United Kingdom is available in 'Households Below Average Income 1994-95 to 2005-06 (revised)'. The latest information available shows that in 2005-06, 17 per cent. of pensioners were living in households with below 60 per cent. of median income (after housing costs). This equates to 1.8 million pensioners.
	We support future pensioners in building up their retirement incomes. We have reformed the state pension to make it simpler, fairer and more generous, ending some of the historical inequalities in entitlement, especially for women. Our reforms will ensure that the state pension will continue to provide a credible foundation for additional pension saving.
	The Pensions Bill includes our proposal to automatically enrol eligible workers into a workplace pension scheme or a new savings system of personal accounts, which will help people on lower incomes to build up their own pension pot to provide a private
	pension income to supplement that received from the state.

Pensioners: Stockton-on-Tees

Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Stockton South constituency received assistance under the minimum income guarantee in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Mike O'Brien: In Stockton South 3,040 households were in receipt of the pension credit guarantee credit as at August 2007—of which 1,070 households were in receipt of the guarantee credit only and 1,970 households were in receipt of both the guarantee credit and savings credit in Stockton South.
	 Notes:
	1. The figures provided are early estimates. The preferred data source for figures supplied by DWP is the work and pensions longitudinal study (WPLS). However, the figure provided is the latest available figure, which is taken from the QMS scan at 31 August 2007. These are adjusted using the historical relationship between WPLS and QMS data to give an estimate of the final WPLS figure.
	2. We have taken the minimum income guarantee to mean the pension credit guarantee credit.
	3. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest 10.
	4. Households are those people who claim pension credit either or themselves only or on behalf of a household.

Pensions

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to make pensions provision to meet demand over the next 20 years.

Mike O'Brien: Our White Paper Security in Retirement: towards a new pensions system set out an integrated package of reforms designed to meet long-term pension challenges and demand.
	The first part of this package was implemented by the Pensions Act 2007 which addresses the historic inequalities in entitlement, especially for women; and provides for a gradual increase in state pension age to ensure the system is sustainable in the face of demographic change. Together, the measures ensure there is a solid foundation upon which people can plan for their retirement.
	Building on these reforms, the current Pensions Bill will extend the benefits of a workplace pension across the working age population through the introduction of auto-enrolment into a qualifying pension and the introduction of simple, low-cost, personal accounts for those without access to a good quality workplace pension. The Bill will simplify pensions and enable more individuals to take responsibility for saving for their own retirement.

Pensions

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners who are eligible to claim pensions credit but do not do so.

Mike O'Brien: Estimates of take-up rates and the number of eligible pensioners not claiming pension credit are available in the DWP publication series entitled 'Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-up'. Copies of the latest publication, plus past reports, can be found in the Library.

Unemployment

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 730-1W, on unemployment, how many households included no-one in full-time employment in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 1979.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 17 January 2008
	The available information is shown in the following table.
	Information on the number of households which included no-one in full-time employment in 1979 is not available.
	
		
			  Working-age households in which no-one works full-time, United Kingdom, April-June 1997 (not seasonally adjusted) 
			   Number  Percentage 
			 Workless households 3,118,000 18.1 
			 Households with employed persons in which no-one works full-time 1,316,000 7.7 
			 All households in which no-one works full-time 4,434,000 25.8 
			  Notes: 1. A working-age household is a household that includes at least one person of working age (male aged 16 to 64 or female aged 16 to 59). 2. Estimates have not been adjusted for households with unknown economic status. 3. Base for percentages excludes households with unknown economic status. 4. As with any sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey are subject to a margin of uncertainty.  Source: Labour Force Survey household dataset